E01829: Inscribed marble reliquaries from the 'Atrium church' in Apamea on the Orontes (central Syria), containing relics of *Kosmas and Damianos (brothers, physician martyrs of Syria, S00385), of *Theodore (probably the soldier and martyr of Amaseia and Euchaita, S00480), and of other 'various saints'. Probably 6th c.
Creators: name: Pnowakowski
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2016
Subjects: History

description: Reliquary 1:<br><br>Small marble chest in the form of a sarcophagus. H. 0.47 m; W. 0.47 m; L. 0.92 m. Lid: H. 0.238 m; W. 0.476 m; L. 0.918 m. The cavity for relics measures only 0.50 m x 0.25 m and is equipped with a channel for the extraction of fluids, leading to an open hollowed extension, resembling a vase or a basin, added to the outer narrow side of the chest. The lid has acroteria, and a round hole (for the introduction of fluids). The inscription is engraved on the wide side of the chest.<br><br>Found in the 'martyrium' chapel of the Atrium church, on a base of stone blocks, in the northeast section of the room. The chest is now in the Musées royaux d'Art et d'Histoire in Brussels, the lid in the National Museum in Damascus. First published by Fernand Mayence and Hippolyte Delehaye in 1935.<br><br>Inscription:<br><br>+ λίψανα τῶν ἁγίων Κοσμᾶ<br> καὶ Δαμιανοῦ<br>(καὶ) διαφόρων ἁγίων + <br><br>'+ Relics of Saints Kosma and Damianos (and) of various saints. +'<br><br>Text: IGLS 4, no. 1338. For a description see: Comte 2012, 365-366.<br><br>Reliquary 2:<br><br>Small white marble chest in the form of a sarcophagus. H. 0.50 m; W. 0.42 m; L. 0.87 m. The narrow side is equipped with an open, hollowed extension resembling a vase or a basin, meant for collecting fluids that had passed through the relics. The inscription is engraved on the wide side.<br><br>Found in the 'martyrium' chapel of the atrium church, near a base of stone blocks, in the south section of the room. The lid is missing. The chest is now in now in the National Museum in Damascus. First published by Fernand Mayence and Hippolyte Delehaye in 1935.<br><br>Inscription:<br><br>+ λίψανα τοῦ ἁγίου Θεοδώρου<br>καὶ διαφόρων ἁγίων + <br><br>'+ Relics of Saint Theodore and of various saints. +'<br><br>Text: IGLS 4, no. 1339. For a description see: Comte 2012, 366.<br><br>Reliquary 3:<br><br>Small broken marble chest in the form of a sarcophagus, most of which is lost. Dimensions of the preserved two fragments: Fragment of the chest: W. 0.54 m; L. 0.43 m. Fragment of the lid: H. 0.23 m; W. 0.53 m; L. 0.96 m. The lid bears a carving of a cross and has a hole for the input of fluids. The wide side was decorated with two rosettes within circles, framed by two concentric rectangles.<br><br>The fragment of the lid was found in 1934, in the 'martyrium' chapel of the Atrium church, in the northeast section of the stone base. The fragment of the chest was found in 1966 outside the church, in the southeast corner of the atrium. Now in the Musées royaux d'Art et d'Histoire in Brussels.<br><br>This reliquary has no inscription. See: Comte 2012, 366-367.<br><br>Reliquary 4 (?):<br><br>A small moulded fragment, probably a piece of a stone sarcophagus, was found reused in one of the doorways of the church. Now in the Musées royaux d'Art et d'Histoire in Brussels. For a description, see: Comte 2012, 368.