The Menas Flask: A Pilgrim's Souvenir
Channel: 2 Byzantinists: Art History Learning Resources
Date: 2020-05-13

In this video, we look at how an African saint was honored in the early Byzantine period. We're two Byzantine art historians (Evan Freeman and Anne McClanan) and here explore the  flasks that remain from throughout the medieval world honoring Saint Menas, whose flasks have been found from England to Samarkand. We look at a wide range of these objects, highlighting several examples currently housed at the  Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

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Here is more information on the Menas Flask, Metropolitan Museum of Art Rogers Fund 27.94.19 from the museum's website:
 Ampulla (Flask) of Saint Menas
Ampullae like this one were used by pilgrims to bring home water or oil from the great pilgrimage site for Saint Menas, said to be a late-third-century Egyptian Roman soldier who was martyred for his Christian faith. He is shown between the two camels who returned his body to Egypt for burial.
Title: Ampulla (Flask) of Saint Menas
Date: late 6th century–mid 8th century
Geography: Made in Egypt, Abu Mena
Medium: Earthenware; molded
Dimensions: H. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
W. 3 in. (7.6 cm)
Classification: Ceramics
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1927
Accession Number: 27.94.27