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Large Byzantine Unknown Lead Medallion

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wegm:
The story of the Dormition goes back to the apocrayphal stories surrounding James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jewish community in Jerusalem after the crucifixion. The festival of the Dormitian does date from around the time of Pulcheria - she was one of the empresses who contributed to the creation of the distinctive cult of Mary. Celbrated on 15th August, it was one of the 12 major celebrations of the church and was preceded by a Lenten preparation period, (nine days, I think).  

As an artistic motif, the Dormition was a late bloomer. The earlist surviving examples are 10th century ivories from Constantinople, (though the site listed above says earlier, the Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium goes with 10th century) . It's not really until the beginning of the Comnenian era (late 11th c) that its usage becomes widespread. Seals of this period use the motif (http://www.kcl.ac.uk/humanities/cch/PBE/seals/L1/Iconography/Koimesis%20of%20Theotokos.htm , though unfortunately no illustrations,) and depictions of the Dormition became a standard in church decoration throughout the empire, and its cultural satellites like Serbia. To judge from the developed composition, raised relief and generally bold style, and from comparing this with other late Byzantine decorative metalwork,  I'd venture a guess that this piece belongs to the 13th or 14th century.

vercingetorix:
Your argument is correct wegm, but Syria seems the wrong place for a XIV century medallion, don't you think?

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