Near East/Holy Land, Byzantine Empire, ca. 9th to 13th century CE. A brass reliquary cross comprised of two crosses - one depicting Jesus and the other depicting Mary in relief - intended to hold a relic. On each cross, the arms are graced by four saints or possibly the Evangelists, though the details have faded a bit over time and it is difficult to decipher their identities. Size: 4.1" L x 2.2" W (10.4 cm x 5.6 cm)The term "relics" is meant to encompass the physical remains of saints or objects associated with Christ, such as pieces of the True Cross, the shroud His body was wrapped in, or, mythically, the Holy Grail - and held tremendous power in medieval Christianity. Reliquaries, objects designed to hold relics, were usually kept in cathedrals or churches, but some wealthy individuals were able to possess them. The less wealthy could purchase replicas of reliquaries, small reliquaries containing less precious items like soil from a holy site, or metal items produced as a form of souvenir from shrines. This example is known as an "enkolpion" (literally "on the chest") because it was meant to safely contain such relics inside the cross which would have been worn on a daily basis.

Later, many of these objects were destroyed in times of religious conflict or strife; ones that are intact have often been passed down through generations of families. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has several of these items in its collection, including on display. See the small hinged cross reliquary depicting Christ and the Virgin on display in Gallery 303.