Byzantine, 10th century

the flat cross with flaring arms, each terminating in two circular finials, a wedge at the bottom of the vertical arm, the front with engraved rosettes and inscription on the upper vertical arm, with four holes on the lower part of the horizontal arm, missing a central medallion, with later soldering on the back

The present example can be very closely compared with a processional cross in the Kanellopoulos Museum, Athens. On both examples the engraved compass-drawn ornamentation includes rosettes and a stylised palmette. The present cross can also be compared with the Processional Cross of St Anastasia in the British Museum.

The wedge at the bottom of the cross would have been used for attachment to a base and lost pendants would have been suspended from the holes along the horizontal arm. 

RELATED LITERATURE
Buckton, pp.159-160; The Glory of Byzantium, p.58