ANCIENT MEDIEVAL RARE CROSS PENDANT NORSE VIKING OR CELTIC c. 10-13th CENTURY

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ANCIENT MEDIEVAL RARE CROSS PENDANT NORSE VIKING OR CELTIC c. 10-13th CENTURY:
$99.00

Beautifully preserved, \"Museum-like\" condition, ancient, rare fine Cross pendant from the Viking or early Christian period cast from bronze or similar brass-like copper alloy. Worn out likely due to devotional wearing by several generations. Covered with beautiful, original green patina from the past many centuries. Exact age unknown, could have been cast in the Viking, Medieval period or earlier. A cautious approach would date the cross as an artifact from 10th - 13th centuries.
The style of the pendant is similar to early cruciform amulets of Northern European (Scandinavian) origin. Similar crosses are often described as 9-11th century \"Viking\" crosses. Such crosses traveled across Europe during the Viking Age, a period of Nordic military, mercantile and demographic expansion reaching the Byzantine Empire, France, Italy, Baltic nations and Ancient Russia (Rus).
The pendant has a small cross centerpiece surrounded by four circles. In pre-Christian period, the circles could have symbolized the four elements (fire, water, land, and sky). Subsequently, in the Christian context, the four circular-shaped \"droplets\", superimposed on the circle surrounding the center of the cross became symbols of the Four Gospels centered around Christ, or the four Wounds of Christ caused by the nails. Alternatively, the four shapes of circular shape symbolize budding, like multiple flower buds would represent people\'s journey of growth in the Christian faith: flowers growing, but not yet in full bloom.
Please examine all photographs carefully and do your own research if necessary. Please note that photographs are an important part of the item\'s description. The U.S. quarter coin, measuring meter and a decorative stone are not for sale, and photographed with the item in order to provide a size reference or artistic background.Please ask all questions before making a purchase.There are no guarantees with the listing because most items are original artifacts that are quite old. All items are sold \"as is\" with no returns because of a change of mind offered. Shipping and handling is free for the continental US. International buyers, please ask me for a shipping quote prior to buying.Please note that customs regulations differ from country to country, and it is a buyer\'s responsibility to ensure that any customs fees or other duties collected by the buyer\'s country are paid and satisfied in full.