Time Period: 6th-9th century A.D. Country of Origin: Byzantine Material: Pewter - lead free Size: Length: 40mm long Width: 27mm Height: 4mm Packaging: Comes with a corded necklace and in a nice clear plastic packet. Description: From a private collection. Byzantine lives were centered on an ordered Christian hierarchy offering salvation through Christ. By the 5th and 6th centuries the cross replaced the Chi-Rho as the standard emblem of religious devotion. Its meaning transcended that of the simple monogram to visually recall the crucifixion. The cross was worn by individuals from every social stratum, from the elaborate bejeweled golden cross of the patriarch to the simple crosses of the common man. This is an elegant and well-crafted replica of an antique cross.