Medieval Bronze Cross Pendant Artifact

Medieval Bronze Cross Pendant Artifact
Medieval European Bronze Cross Pendant | Circa. 16th Century | A Western-European Cross-shaped artifact pendant with images on each side - Side 1) The figure of Christ crucified with what appears to be the letters "INRI" above the figure of Christ, these letters representing the Latin phrase, "Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum," which translates to "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." These are the words which Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who sentenced Jesus to death, ordered to be written on the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. Side 2) Appears to be the figure of Jesus, or more likely, Mary in prayer, with the Letter "M" above the figure, and the symbol of the rose on either side and below the figure. Historically, the letter "M" represented Mary, or Mary's presence at the foot of the cross. The most common association of the rose was with the Virgin Mary. The rose was a privileged symbol for Mary. One of her titles in Catholic Marian devotion is Rosa Mystica or Mystic Rose. ... By the twelfth century, the red rose had also come to represent Christ's passion, and the blood of the martyrs | Approx. Dimensions: 1.3" H x .9" Wd; 33.02 x 22.86 mm | Top of the cross pendant has a bail hole | Although this cross represents the teachings of the Catholic faith, it was likely made and worn at the time of the European Reformation, a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church.