Iota Alpha O(w)mega motif

Iota Alpha Omega Motif Iota J.S. FRIDAY lpha O( )mega motif by J. S. Friday Sept 2019 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 1 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Paper by © Jeff Friday / J. S. Friday / Jeff S. Friday © 2017-2019. Paper available in the United States of America 2019 on Academia.edu The right of J.S.Friday / Jeff Friday to be identified as the Author of this Work (ie., publication, paper) has been asserted by his in accordance with the Copyright, Design & Patents Act of 1988. All Rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechinical, computerized or other means, now and hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Commerical version available via ISBN-13: 978-1723061295 Kindle Direct Publishing (formerly by Createspace) ISBN-10: 1723061298 Typeset/Font is Century Gothic. BISAC Category: Art / History / Ancient & Classical (Greek & European). Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data: Friday, J.S. / Friday, Jeff, 2003 – author/compiler. First page/cover Illustrated by Author from various works covered here in Αλφα ωμέγα motif. Red heart ‘ Author. Λ + I Yover ω’ and additional hearts illustrations/graphics painted by Other books titles possible from this work: -The Greek monogram of God motif! The monogram & pictogram of God in Byzantium. -The Alpha, Word, Bread, Heart and the Omega Icon of GOD! -IAM kings of the Merovingian dynasty. The IAM Kings / The I AM Kings (of Britain). -The Secrets of the Heart Motif. -The Sacred Heart and its origin in Christianity. -The Right Hand of God – the shielded right hand of his armor. -Monogram & Pictogram of God (Yaw). -The Right Half of Gods Heart – the divine love and honor of his sacred heart. -The Trigrammaton Pictograph of God in Byzantium. The First & Last Monogram of GOD. -The Heart monogram of Magdala. The Accidental discovery of the Monogram of God. -The Holy Heart – the motif that has survived two millennia. The agape Icon of -The Ultimate Icon for the ineffable name of God. The IAM monogram of Yah/Yaw. -The Icon of GOD in Byzantium. The First + Last Motif of God. -The Lev of the Alpha (First) & Omega (Last). The Aleph and the Tav motif. -The Codification of the GOD motifs! The Half-Heart shield. The Divided Heart Shield. -The Αλφα ωμέγα AM Ligature & Pictogram of God in Byzantium! -The Upright Heart of Byzantium. The Ri’shon and ‘Akharon motif. -Iota Alpha Omega motif -The First and Last Motif of God. -Magdala monogram of God/Yaw -Magdala heart monogram of God/Yaw. The Publisher or Author has no responsibility for the persitence or accuracy of URLs for external or 3rd party internet websites referenced in this book, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is or will remain accurate or appropriate for research. 2 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY About the Author Jeff Friday is a Technical Consultant in the United States. He graduated from Shorter University at Rome, Georgia (in Atlanta) with a BSBA. He chose his final exam topic as ‘World Theology’ and has used these concepts to understand the people & their cultural histories. He has enjoyed finishing the Genealogical research on his paternal ancestry while paralleling the historical events in his books starting in 1999, 2002(poetry), 2003,2012,2015 Genealogy, 2012(art),2016-19(Dingobmx),2017-19(Shield + InvertedHeart)2019. He lives in Georgia with his wife Robin and children. EPIGRAPH To understand the past is to understand the present. Your ancestry is resonant. It precludes your history that you are part of that person’s genealogy. Genealogy clues should not be taken lightly, as they sometimes will reveal the most details. Saving history starts with digging up, documenting by “publishing that knowledge for others”. Genealogy is Mythology until one has documented an ancient ancestor. P + T + (R/I) = D [Patience + Time + Research divided by Insight = Discovery/Breaking down brick walls]. The best discovery is one in which a historical record changes your perception and warms your brain with awareness. Got History? Who's archiving and documenting your Ancestral Family History? There is no better History lesson than one from your own ancestors. In Yaω ωe . In IAω I Trust. ’s me. 3 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Acknowledgements First, I want to thank God (Yah/Yaw) for endowing me in the endeavor of knowledge and blessings. The ongoing thanks from my Wife Robin, her Mother, my children (Zach and Rebecca) family and friends for listening to my thoughts, speeches, news and discoveries so that I could continue to work on this wonderful information. The difficulties in completing a book like this with self-illustrated images may take a life time, but the following Museums graciously began to offer these treasured images for use in helping researchers show these in new ways as never before documented. My first exposure was the website from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (TheMet) in providing OA/Open Access using CCO1 1.0 designation for a majority of the beautiful art images now available for researchers like myself. This will return dividends to the Cultural Arts community and the MetMuseum. Thank you! The Walters Art Museum also has contributed imaging under the Creative Commons Zero/CC02 1.0 usage for which some of these motifs could not have been described without the visual context. Thank you! As I was wrapping up my research, I discovered a marvelous collection of Coptic fabrics located @ the Brooklyn Museum in collaboration with Index of Christian Art | Princeton University. Thank you for also allowing researchers to get their point across by providing CCL3 3.0 usage of your collections. A discovery that referenced the heart to the spade motif was found in the Art Institute of Chicago’s (AIC) collection. Thank you for allowing me to be able to use a significant artifact image via CC04 1.0 to make a correlation in collateral motifs. Just prior to publishing the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) made an announcement5 Jan 23rd, 2019 that it has made available 30,000+ images into the public domain. If this hadn’t happened, I would only have been able to publish these CMA images only in an academic journal. Thank you! For the British Museum (and PAS6), Vatican Archives, NYPL, or other Cultural foundations I may have taken for granted by providing researchers direct online access to Metmuseum Image and Data Resources Open Access policy update February 2017. https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/policies-and-documents/image-resources Approved for Free Cultural Works cc0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 2 The Walters Museum Policy on Digital Images of Collection objects usage Creative Commons License (CCL) https://art.thewalters.org/license/ CCZ/CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication NRR No Rights Reserved 3 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/copyright Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 4 Art Institute of Chicago Creative Commons Zero (CC0) https://www.artic.edu/image-licensing Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 5 Cleveland Museum of Art that it is an open-access institution as of 1/23/2019 https://www.clevelandart.org/open-access (CC0) https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 6 Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ 1 4 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY incredible artifact collections or beautiful illuminations photographed sometimes years ago.. Thank you! If it wasn’t for my Alma Mater ‘Shorter University’ in Atlanta (Rome, Georgia), I may not have had the chance to study world Theology as my final examination for my degree in 1997. Thank you! Last, thank you God (Yehowah), Jesus (Yeshua) and the Holy Spirit for delivering these knowledge blessings of the heart. Thank you! 5 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY INTRODUCTION & PREFACE The accessory symbol images on artists palletes have mysterious concepts as old as the most ancient artifacts ever discovered. These images always ask us why were they done? What is the meaning? Why was this shape used or why did it appear during this Epoch? Did only the master artisans know what these were? Did all who visited understand? Many accessory symbols have been hiding in plain site for milleniums without some news of understanding. While researching and writing a book on the ‘Origin of the so-called Kite shields’, I stumbled upon a few items in Byzantine motifs and symbols that no one had an explanation for the origin. One item was the so-called ‘Kite’ shaped shield presented on 10th-13th century empresses dresses found in enamels, illuminations(manuscripts) and elaborate church frescoes. Another item, which is the reason to document this interesting find is the so-called ‘Inverted Heart’. By the way, the >inverted heart< motif does tie into the >thorakion< shield story. This book had to be started quickly due to the discovery and timely need to make this motif and symbols known to the world. Most of my research into the Byzantine shield book has been forwarded to this book, edited and added upon to make this publication possible. While many of the concepts, characters and stories from these events cannot be discussed deeply, I will provide the references and sources of other fabulous histographies on which to venture into for further study. This book will try to focus on the motifs and the time period as they occur and travel from shore to shore. This book could possibly be used as a Primer for further research. Since the heart imagery occurs around the world in Mayan, Chinese, and other cultures these have not been discussed as an additional book on this world index would need to be created entirely for this depth. This book details the European, GrecoRoman, Middle-eastern geography connections to the Inverted Heart imagery before and after its renaissance from the 6th century mosaics. Since we now live in an age of Visual story telling, many of the images have been cropped to the closest edge of the photo simply to save space, but in the publishing real estate world, the image won’t be listed as ‘Cropped’. If heavily cropped or cut down to the needed detail (much less than original) the Illustration/Figure will be described as ‘Cropped’. This book almost didn’t occur in its sole form due to researching the shield armor origins occurring before the ‘Norman Conquest of England 1066’. The inverted heart symbol caught my attention due to tear drop shapes also appearing in a few pieces of art work (ie., Reliquary Box of the True Cross ca.800a.d.). The tear-drop or sun ray image appears throughout history in a myriad of meanings within those cultures, but I needed to put a related meaning to the tear drop shape. During my shield shape research, I mention the early empress shields appear more half-heart shape and so the research began. Until, by accident my daughter Rebecca holds up two early period shaped 6 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY >thorakion< “wood cut” shields together and reveal the true nature and heart of the Byzantine empire. In researching, I wasn’t able to locate previous Art anthologies to attempt to redocument many of these interesting, albeit, odd motifs. Many of the wonderful books documenting plates7 of these beautiful motifs, DO NOT provide detailed descriptions on the abstract motifs, just a colored plate of ornaments in what they determine is the culture from which they found the motifs. So, I used my research to attempt to update these heart-like images with a clearer description only because I was not able to locate any consistent terminology from archaeological or other research papers. While making these discoveries in researching, I became frustrated and asked “why has no one ever found this symbology”? There are more qualified people in academia that should have already documented this. Why do I seem to be the 1st in uncovering this? This answer took me several months to figure this out, but it’s so clear now. Researchers, Professors, Academics, Archaelogists and Students etc, prior to large image and textbook/paper databases like Books.Google.com (est Oct 2004+)8 one could only look up these items in Libraries, Universities or travel to the sites themselves. What it used to take in years to research, data & analysis, to write, take notes, mail, photos, etc, could now be done in a few months with the advancement of 21st century search engines by using keywords on global images or documents added by University partners or various independent investigators. Although, this book is merely scratching the surface on hidden meanings and symbologies, many books covering any iota of these motifs will need to be re-thought and re-written due to the discoveries found here-in. Read this book like an Art dictionary, albeit many of the artifacts criss-cross into several different styles, concepts and motifs that really can not be pinned down to one particular category. One last comment, is to those “Critics” that will come after these New discoveries of the Heart Motif. Where will your criticism be of other researchers that did not achieve this level of insight for your prior reading comprehension? Meyer, Franz 2012. Handbook of Ornaments. Re-publishing of various books of Ornaments including Owen Jones 1865. 8 Launched Oct 2004. Known as Google Print. By Oct 2015 OCR scanned titles were over 25million. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Books 7 7 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY CONTENTS About the Author ......................................................................................................................3 EPIGRAPH ..................................................................................................................................3 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................4 INTRODUCTION & PREFACE ......................................................................................................6 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...........................................................................................................10 Pre-history of the >Heart< motif .............................................................................................12 The Ivy/Fig Leaf Heart .........................................................................................................12 Leaf shapes .........................................................................................................................21 Monograms & Pictograms .....................................................................................................21 ΙAω / IΛω ..............................................................................................................................27 ΙA / IΛ ....................................................................................................................................29 ΙAM / ΙΛM .............................................................................................................................29 Λ Lambda ............................................................................................................................39 Aegean λφα/ lpha ........................................................................................................43 Aω Αλφα/Alpha ωμέγα/Omega .......................................................................................51 Αλφα ωμέγα/Aω in Jewelry ...............................................................................................55 Αλφα &/or ωμέγα/Aω on Coinage ...................................................................................60 Anchor/o[ω]mega Cross ....................................................................................................67 O[ω]mega Column \ ωμέγα στήλη ..................................................................................74 Omega ................................................................................................................................77 Lamed/Lamedh ..................................................................................................................78 The WORD/Bread/Heart .....................................................................................................81 Standard Heart / Non-Inverted .............................................................................................85 Hearts in Jewelry .................................................................................................................92 Hearts in Clothing/Tapestry/Silks ........................................................................................93 Hearts in Mosaics .................................................................................................................98 Hearts in Administration .................................................................................................... 103 Hearts in Burials .................................................................................................................. 106 Hearts on Coins ................................................................................................................. 108 Hearts on Christian Artifacts ............................................................................................. 109 8 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Amazon Pelta Shield/ pre-Scrolled Hearts .......................................................................... 111 Pelta Shield Jewelry .......................................................................................................... 113 Pelta Shields or Scrolled Hearts in mosaics ...................................................................... 114 Pelta Scrolled Shields or Scrolled Hearts in Jewelry ........................................................ 119 Pelta Scrolled Hearts in Tapestries.................................................................................... 125 Pelta Scrolled Hearts in Illuminations................................................................................ 126 Inverted Heart (AlphaO(ω)mega/Αλφα ωμέγα) ........................................................... 130 Double Alpha Arrow/Double Inverted Heart .................................................................. 145 Alpha Arrow Spear Tip .......................................................................................................... 148 Inverted Fig Leaf Spade ....................................................................................................... 160 Αλφαωμέγα Spade ........................................................................................................... 167 The Divided Spade............................................................................................................ 179 Spade Cross ....................................................................................................................... 180 Spades in Administration .................................................................................................. 181 The Cape Mantle.................................................................................................................. 184 Trefoil/Club Cross .................................................................................................................. 197 Pre-history of the >Teardrop/Ray< motif ............................................................................. 199 The Star/Sun rays or Rosette ............................................................................................. 199 The Eye/Nazar ................................................................................................................... 201 Peacocks and/or its >Eyes< .......................................................................................... 202 Tears/Marks/Pearls ................................................................................................................ 205 Tears/Marks in Jewelry ...................................................................................................... 208 Tears/Marks in Coinage .................................................................................................... 210 Alpha Arrow/Pointer ......................................................................................................... 214 Exclamation Mark/Point! .................................................................................................. 216 Heart Cross Tapestries........................................................................................................... 218 Heart Cross Jewelry ........................................................................................................... 225 X’s & O’s/XO.......................................................................................................................... 227 Lozenges (Diamonds) ........................................................................................................... 229 Tree of Life (eternal).............................................................................................................. 234 Reversed ‘Ƨ’........................................................................................................................... 236 9 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Double ‘ƧS’......................................................................................................................... 242 The Divided Heart ................................................................................................................. 247 Thorakion Half Heart Shields ............................................................................................. 251 CONCLUSION/SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... 281 TERMINOLOGY ...................................................................................................................... 284 LIST OF FIGURES/ILLUSTRATIONS ............................................................................................ 293 CHRONOLOGICAL TIMELINE: 10,000 b.c – 1300’s a.d ........................................................ 302 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................... 306 BIBLIOGRAPHY REFERENCES ................................................................................................. 307 Public Domain &/or Misc Image Site References .............................................................. 309 Illumination’s & Manuscript References .............................................................................. 313 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS a.d. A&V AAST/IA A# AN: AIC Aw b.c B&W bce. BklnM BM BMcws BNdF/BNF B.V c. ~ ca. c.e CMA cy d. DblS EM Fdl gr. IAA Ibid dating Anno Domini or after Christs birth Albert & Victoria museum Alpha Arrow Spear Tip/Iota Alpha/AI Accession Number, referring to museum catalog reference. Authors note The Art Institute of Chicago Alphaomega or Alpha and lowercase omega, see IH dating Before Christ Black & White ‘images’ Before current/common era or Christian era. Brooklyn Museum British Museum British Museum collection web site search Bibliotheque Nationale de France Biblioteca Vatican or Digital Vatican Library circa, meaning around this time frame or year. current era or 0 a.d.+ The Cleveland Museum of Art century dated Double ‘S’ or Dble Reversed ‘S’ Exclamation Mark(s) Fleur-de-lis Greek manuscript Israel Antiquities Authority ibidem(latin) for same source previously mentioned or ‘ditto’. 10 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif IH Illustr’n/illustr’d Lat. lis Ls MAA MCARF MoFAB ML&M MMoA/TheMet MMoAcws MoFAH MOLA ms NMoS NCT NT OA OT pl. r. PAS RS RNS RSwPB S# SH SP Tk ThC TWAM Vat.Gr J.S. FRIDAY Inverted Heart(s), same as Aw. Illustration/illustrated Latin fleur-de-lis, the shorted description used by Numismatists Loros robe Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Russian Federation Museum of Fine Arts Boston The Morgan Library & Museum Metropolitan Museums of Art, New York Metropolitan Museums of Art collection web site search The Museum of Fine Arts Houston Museum of London Archaelogy manuscript National Museum of Scotland Numismatic Coin Type/Description New Testament Open Access/Public Access permission for Images/CC0 1.09 Old Testament Plate or Table images reign Portable Antiquities Scheme Reversed ‘S’ Royal Numismatic Society Round shields with pointed bosses. Serial #\number Scrolled Heart Scrolled Pelta Thorakion shield form/representation Century The Walters Art Museum Vatican Greek MS CCO 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication – No Copyright https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 9 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 11 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Pre-history of the >Heart< motif The Oldest image of the heart shape known is the Mammoth painting in red perfectly positioned at the shoulder where the heart is typically found or directed to injure by hunters. This Paleolithic artist circa 35000-11000 b.c.e produced many works at the cave of Pindal in Northern Spain near the town of Pimiango facing the Bay of Biscay. See photograph and sketch from archaeological site page10. However, this mammoth heart, although interesting isn’t the purpose for this book. The Ivy/Fig Leaf Heart The Harrapan people (ca.3300-1300 b.c)11 in the Indus valley worshipped bulls, Sivalingas and pipal/peepal (fig) trees12 in which the leaf has a very heart shape with an elongated tip. The Mundigak, Kabal Museum in Afghanistan which was a neighboring connected culture is located just NNW of the Indus valley, had a pottery Goblet decorated with pipal leaves in its museum in the 1985 catalogue13. Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Mesopotamian region surrounding the Indus valley would have had this pipal leaf, geometric and animal blended pottery motifs. Fig. 1- Balochistan, Pakistan terracotta ca.3000 b.c. Author Illustr'd from Harappa.com Katolec collection.14 The Sumerian civlizatiion (Iraq) also produced an enamel cloisonné ring15 ca. 3000 b.c. with flower or star shaped motifs including a red kidney bean or heart like image pointing away from each other. Wearing the ring the top bean/heart would be inverted while the bottom heart would be right side up. Some have suggested this is the old oldest marriage band. The Egyptians had scarab’s jewelry, amulet or memorialized funeral goods described (mostly round or oval shaped) for the heart beginning around ~1550 b.c. Most heart artifacts were Scarabs were the natural stone colors of black, dark green, or various browns, and not the typical heart shape we know today. The heart (ib) in the Egyptian concept “was the source of intelligence, feelings, actions and memory” (MMoA). The Amulet was used for the mummy so that during the judgement (Weighing of the Heart) 10 Don Hitchcock page for Cueva del Pindal https://donsmaps.com/cuevadelpindal.html Indus Valley Civilization https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley_Civilisation 12 Lal, Makkhan ~2000. Ancient India Textbook for Class XI. p90. 13 Tissot, Francine 2006. Kabal Museum catalogue 1985 Inv# 60.17-1413, p19. 14 Indus Nal and Kulli cultures https://www.harappa.com/content/ceramic-and-terracotta-figurinesbalochistan-katolec-collection 15 Sumerian Mesopotamia ring 3000 b.c. Lourve Museum, Paris https://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mabv0xPfxM1ql5d2uo1_640.jpg 11 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 12 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY in the afterlife, the amulet would ensure a positive acknowledgement to Osiris on behalf of the deceased. Fig. 2- Heart Amulet ca.1295-1070 b.c.16 Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1919. Cropped photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.17 Another interesting item heart shaped was used as a shield and in other occupations in Egypt is a linen clothe for infantry ‘loin’ protection in Thebes. This heart shaped shielded girdles ‘frequently made of thick stuff, perhaps quilted, was by no means an effectual substitute for armor, nor could it resist the spear or a metal-pointed arrow’ (Wilkinson 1854,401). Fig. 3- Egyptian men w/heart shaped shielded girdles 18th Dynasty or 1550-1292 b.c. Illustr’n credit Sir John Gardner Wilkinson 1854.18 a. Military in Thebes. b. Egyptian soldiers of various corp in Thebes. c. Priests wearing only the finest linens, shaved their heads and some wore a girdle secured at the belt. a. Military band, with metal castanet instruments - not pictured. An ancient reference to the heart if not an image is mentioned more19 in the OT than the NT of the Bible. The book of Leviticus (the tribe of Levites) is the 3rd book of the Torah in the old testament which was written before the 5thC b.c. “The word HEART in Hebrew Heart Amulet, New Kingdom, Egypt ca.1295-1070 b.c. made of Red Jasper A#10.130.1795 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/545420 17 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 18 Wilkinson, Sir John Gardner 1854. A Popular Account of the Ancient Egyptians, Volume 1. Pgs 334, 346, 369 and not shown page 224. 19 Heart word count comparing OT to NT https://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_WordCount.htm 16 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 13 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY is composed of two letters20, the Lamed (pictorial image of a shepherd’s staff) and the Beyt and then putting them together we have the word Lev/Leb. The heart is mentioned 132 times in the Qur’an.21 Fig. 4- Lotus flower and bud on Rhodian vase 6th or early 5thC b.c. Illustr. credit McGraw-Hill 1898. 22 The earliest Greek heart shape can be found in Rhodes (Rhodian culture) a Greek island dating th th 6 -5 century b.c. in the form of lotus flower bud. In this same period there are images on pottery of a winged god ‘Nike’ with black heart shaped vined leaves.23 The typical 24 I have not found occurring in ‘well rounded’ Ivy/Fig/Heart leaf shape Greek or Etruscan pottery prior to 575 b.c. In this same period ca.500 b.c.e25 we find Greek Amphora with with the dual “Apotropaic” Eyes used or “intended to ward off evil”26 which also includes multiple outstretched black fig leafs (inverted & upwards) . The Greeks, Etruscans, Ptolemaic, Cretan (and surrounding area cultures) artefacts have an images of Ivy/Heart leaves in terracotta pottery (amphora), sarcophagus, silver plates/bowls, jewelry, mosaic tiles and other artistic forms that were available. The Ivy leaf heart colors are usually represented as a blackish-brown (alkali potash/soda & black ferrous oxide of iron)27 or beige color on the terracotta artefacts. Occasionally a 28 can be found attributed to the Red (or pinkish) colored ivy hearts Heidelberg Painter from 560-550 b.c.. A similar alternating Red and Black stemmed fig leaf chain on a siana cup sherd was found at Naukratis29 in Egypt which dates to 575555 b.c. The ivy heart leaf shaped vinery wreath crown was decorated around the head of Dionysos, the god of wine. Pottery has been found with the same heart shape wreath on Dionysos30 from the 5th & 6thC b.c. The Wedding procession in (Fig. 5) has two Hebrew word study Heart part1 http://livingwordin3d.com/discovery/2017/01/14/hebrew-word-studyheart-part-i/ 21 Heart mentioned 132x in the Quran http://quranproject.org/The-human-heart-in-the-glorious-Quran-481-d 22 Architectural Record Volume 8 McGraw-Hill 1898. 23 Brescia Museum, Italy 5thC http://www.heartsymbol.com/english/index.html?heartsymbol.html 24 Terracotta fragment of calyx-krater bowl 3rd Qtr 6thC b.c. A#2011.604.3.615 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/749969 25 Amphora 500 b.c.e A#29.2 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/27444 26 Cohen, Beth 2008. The Colors of Clay: Special Techniques in Athenian Vases. Glossary p.342 27 Terracotta pottery blackish-brown color combination https://www.ancient.eu/Greek_Pottery/ 28 Terracotta fragment of kylix: Siana drinking cup 560-550 b.c. described as “red and black ivy” https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/753393 29 Siana cup sherd described as ‘ivy leaf chain’ British Museum 1888,0601.756 30 Dionysos heart wreath http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Dionysos.html 20 14 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY newlyweds(left), then Demeter (goddess of grain), Dionysos (center), then presumed Hera (goddess of marriage, etc)31, and Hermes (hidden behind horses) is surrounded by about 56 heart shaped ivy leaves around the scene. Theseus is battling a Minotaur on the rim of the vessel. Fig. 5- Greek Hydria Wedding Processions 520 b.c. Attica, Greece.32 Henry Walters from Massarenti Collect’’n 1902. Cropped photo credit the WALTERS ART MUSEUM CCZ/CC0 1.0.33 On the Island of Cyrene, the vignette of 12+ hearts motif is found on a fragment pottery shard Chalice dating to 530-525 b.c. which occurs under the deity cult of Demeter & Persephone.34 Many of the actual heart shape images are separated from the ivy image and each heart is typically about the size of a little finger nail or smaller on the pottery rim, vignette, handles or borders35. Even the Greek tribe of women called ‘Amazon(s)’ warriors also displayed a vignette of ~150 ivy hearts on the rim of a plate @ MMoA as the Amazon warrior carries on her back, a wounded warrior who is a carrying a round shield with another vine of beige hearts.36 A 4th C b.c. Kylix has 18 ivy/heart like shaped leaves vined around the head of an Amazon woman.37 “The Greeks gave Eros wings intended to be the fluttering of the heart, produced when lovers meet” (Inman 1884, xxxvii). The winged Eros is also painted on terracotta oinochoe from the 4thC b.c. with Dionysos with an ivy heart vignette circling the jug38. Sometimes the black ivy heart (40+x) will just show up on vessel intended for a 39 Greek aristocratic (no deities) in outdoor activities like horseback riding just to be a 31 Hera goddess of marriage, women, family and child birth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hera Wedding Procession ca520 b.c. https://art.thewalters.org/detail/38985/black-figure-hydria-depicting-awedding-procession/ 33 CCZ/CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) NRR Public Domain Dedication from CCL https://art.thewalters.org/license/ 34 Heart vined Chalice at Cyrene East Greek pottery. White, Donald, Warden, G, Oliver, A, Crabtree, P, Monge, J. 1990. Site’s architecture: its first six years hundred year of development. p32. 35 Dietrich, Nikolaus, Scielo 2015. Dionysus heart examples in pottery http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1413-77042015000200057&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en 36 Terracota Plate of Amazon warrior w/heart leaves ca510 b.c A#1971.258.2 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/255340 37 Kylix w/Head of Amazon woman A#48.2767 https://art.thewalters.org/detail/35502/red-figure-kylix-2/ 38 Terracotta oinochoe jug 4thC b.c. Greek, Attic culture MMoA Item# 251935 A# 25.190 39 Hydria w/ Quadria A#48.31 https://art.thewalters.org/detail/4573/black-figure-hydria-with-a-quadriga-3/ 32 15 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY beautiful border motif. A tunic with Dionysian + miniature heart pattern40 combinations were still produced into clothing (wool, weaves, linens, and tapestry weaves) to at least the ~5th century from Akhmim, Egyptian artisans. 41 that is The Silphium plant incidentally had a heart shaped pod or seed presented in our modern conceptual standard Heart imagery on the obverse or reverse of Tetradrachm coins beginning around 570 b.c. The plant found on Mediterranean coast town of Cyrene (Kyrene) Libya, North Africa was used for healing, preventing contraception, and other medicines with aphrodisiac properties.42 The Euboic-Attic tetradrachm coin (Fig. 6)obverse (left) shows a ‘stalk of silphium w/2 leaves on each side”, and the reverse (right) a “grain of silphium between two dolphins”.43 Fig. 6- Euboic-Attic tetradrachm coin. Illustr'n credit plate XXIV, Bement 1921.44 The head of Zeus/Jupiter Ammon is typically shown with the Silphium plant or heart shaped seed pod. Also, the nymph ‘Kyrene’ ca.520 b.c possibly harvesting the seeds while a large inverted pod is posted behind her back. The heart seed would occasionally be seen on the plant or around it as the ‘fruit’ between the years 525-475 b.c. The seed heart imagery stays on these ancient coins until about 475 b.c. and then the plant ‘only’ continues up to the 1stC sometimes miniaturized in the corners or coins. The 1st century is also the same time frame “the true Silphium plant becomes extinct”45 , however it was still known in the 5th century when the Bishop of Barka (or Barce) supplied the rarity Silphium to Synesius who died in 431 a.d.46 The seed heart imagery was rarely illustrated in books by Researchers or Archeologists until about the 20th century. The silphium seed heart is 100% Cyrene and it found rarely elsewhere on other coins for this symbology47. There is a small Silphium sprig48 in exergue of Alexander the Great on a Phoenician stater coin of Ptolemy I ca.323-305-285 b.c. The Ptolmaic Kings of MMoA Tunic with Dionysian heart ornaments ~5thC https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-ofart/26.9.8/ 41 Author illustr’d from various coins http://www.coinproject.com/siteimages/97-847497.jpg & Buttrey, T.V. 1992. Coins and the Cult pg62. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cyrenecoin.jpg 42 Markowitz, Mike 2015. Kyrene Greek city of Libya https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/coinage-kyrenegreek-city-libya/ 43 Bement, C.S. 1921. Description Catalogue of Greek Coins p97. 44 Ibid,. Bement Plate XXIV coin342. 45 Wells, Joseph 1912. A Commentary on Herodotus, Volume 1, Books 1-4, p357. 46 Churchill, J 1873. Pharmaceutical Journal Volume 3, p1012 47 See index of Silphium coins found from auction sites. 9 varieties of silphium hearts coins found Feb 2019 https://www.coinarchives.com/a/results.php?search=silphium&s=0&upcoming=0&results=100 48 Ibid,. Bement 1921 Plate XXIII coin330, description p95. 40 16 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Egypt would occasionaly add the Silphium plant on coins as did Ptolemy IX 116-107 b.c.49 Fig. 7- Kyrenaika coinage ca.431-321b.c w/Silphion plant. Illustr'n credit Ward & Hill 1902.50 A rare Greek Silver Stater coin51 from Paphos (Cyprus) ca.400 b.c. has an Eagle flying left with a long-stemmed Ivy (pipal?) leaf pointing upward in the lower left corner on the reverse of the coin. The obverse has a bull standing left with an inscription in Cypriot “Onasi” above the bull and below it “basile” struck under Onasioikos.52 Almost all known prior coins of this Onasioikos group (Bull & Eagle) have an Ankh ☥ with the Eagle standing and a few exceptions where its flying. The Ivy leaf motif probably came from the Cilicia, Soloi Stater ca.440-410 b.c. coins obverse, which has 2 ivy (pipal?) leafs pointing downward beside an Amazon kneeling left holding a bow.53 This particular Cilicia coin series shows the ivy leafs going either, “up or down” doing an auction image search on google.com. The Satrap (Governor/Ruler) of Cilicia, Balakros (r.333-323 b.c.) of Tarsus would continue to present the leaf dedicated to Baaltars “Baal” the god of Tarsus. 54 on his stater coins probably Other Greek character such as Nereid the sea-nymph’s have also been decorated with Ivy heart leaf borders which date 340-320 b.c.55 In between seeing these deities with hearts a few other examples occur in Numismatics. In Ancient Greece Mysia, Pergamon (in Anatolia) the ruler Philetairos (r.282-263 b.c.) has the standard heart shaped ivy leaf on the reverse of a coin and Athena on the obverse56. Supposedly Men would give Silphium stalk in front of two eagles on rev bronze coin. https://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=1405397&AucID=2857&Lot=390&Val=b2a6173c487b 2766bda37bcc559a5373 50 Ward, John. Hill, George Frances 1902. Greek coins and their parent cities. p.147 51 Rare Greek Stater coin ca.400 b.c. https://www.flickr.com/photos/antiquitiesproject/6415638511/ 52 Ancient Art & Numicmatics 2011 https://www.flickr.com/photos/antiquitiesproject/6415638511/ 53 Cilicia, Soloi Stater ca.440-410 b.c. https://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=1533882&AucID=3189&Lot=651&Val=3ba810c359ac d5dcfb876bb0825a4d3a 54 Balakros stater coin 333-323 b.c. http://www.alvin-portal.org/alvin/view.jsf?pid=alvinrecord%3A161525&dswid=-2967 http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ 55 Nereid (sea-nymph) on a Dolphin plate 340-320 b.c. http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/digitalcollection/25.+archaeological+artifacts/289733 56 Philetairos coin with Ivy heart shaped leaf 282-263 b.c. http://www.ancientresource.com/lots/greek/greek-coins/coins-ancient-healing.html 49 17 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY these coins as love tokens. There are two perfect examples of the hearts in Jewelry centuries before it was a Christian motif. One Hellenistic ornament (3rdC b.c.) is a female goddess wearing a polos with barely visible tucked wings(?) surrounded by 2 hearts pointing outwards from the head and 2 hearts pointing downward too her from above. This upper portion has 2 larger open scrolled hearts with double rosettes and a flower in the divider. This goddess could be any Psykhe (Psyche=Soul) who had heart shaped wings57 married to Eros (Cupid/Amor=Desire), Aphrodite (Venus=Love) or other associated deities to the heart icon. A Second item albeit probably the earliest Inverted Heart (Carnelian red) almost kidney shaped is a Parthian gold hair pin from ancient Iran58 (248 bce224 ce) with a winged victory(?) standing atop the heart which is above a staff with a globe. Both items are definitely not an early Christian artifact but are great examples of early heart shaped craftsmanship. The Olgia treasure bracelets (Fig. 207) also have 4 hearts as emerald leaves created in the 2nd-1stC b.c.. Fig. 8- Hellenistic filigree gold Heart applique 3rdC b.c. Greece.59 Photo credit The Walters Art Museum CCZ/CC0 1.0.60 The Romans being jealous, made a copy of Dionysius under the name Bacchus the god of agriculture, wine and fertility – hence the mixture of the last two notables translates to “revelry and good times” (Grieve, 1931). Interestingly enough they both have the same parentage and “said to be the last god to join the twelve Olympians”.61 Psyche with heart shaped wings 3rdC a.d Hatay Archeology Musuem http://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/Psykhe.html Cat# 1021 Antioch http://www.hatayarkeolojimuzesi.gov.tr/ 58 Parthian Iranian jewelry in Reza-Abbasi Museum http://www.caissoas.com/CAIS/virtual_museum/parthian/Artefacts/metalwork.htm http://www.caissoas.com/CAIS/Images2/Parthian/Metalwork/Parthian_Gold_Carnelian_Pin_RezaAbbasiMuseum.jpg 59 Hellenistic Jewelry goddess(?) w Hearts 3rdC b.c. Greece A#57.1414 https://art.thewalters.org/detail/32464/ornament-with-a-woman/ 60 CCL https://art.thewalters.org/license/ CCZ/CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 61 Bacchus https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacchus 57 18 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY As you can see the heart image was thought of differently in the 1st century b.c as it was engraved and connected directly to this metal wine (grapes) strainer. Fig. 9- Wine strainer 1stC b.c.62 Henry Walters 1928. Photo credit The Walters Art Museum purchase 1949, CCZ/CC0 1.0 PD.63 An Ivy heart leaf vine motif tiled border mosaic from the upper palace has been unearthed at the ancient city Caesarea Maritima (ca.22-10 b.c.)64 in Israel which was the site of Herod’s temple on the Mediterranean Sea. The heart leaf vine has a beige arrow point in the center with a reddish-brown heart shaped border and a niello / blackish small border surrounding the heart leaf and vine. A floor fresco with greyish heart-shaped leaves collapsed during a fire in Rome located near the Aurelian walls (built btwn 271-275 a.d.). This and other finds located during construction65 of a Rome’s metro line C in 2017. This structure was probably built after Emperor Septimius Severus reign 145-211 a.d. After 313 b.c. the Romans were allowed (by Constantine the Great) to openly worship (acceptance/toleration) of Christianity66 by the Edict of Milan. Permission has been granted to openly emblaze the new-Godograms/Christogram’s in the empire. So, this decree appears to be the transition and dumping of the Ivy heart leaf from floral vine and wine god to the promotion and elevation of the heart pictogram Alphaomega (monogram icon of God) motif. 62 Roman wine strainer 1stC b.c. found near Lake Trasimene, Northern Italy before 1929. A#57.1814 https://art.thewalters.org/detail/7840/wine-strainer/ 63 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://art.thewalters.org/license/ 64 Caesarea Maritima https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesarea_Maritima 65 3rdC villa found during Rome Metro line C construction http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/category/ancient/page/22 66 Christianity openly worshipped (legally) in Rome 313 b.c. https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ancientrome/rome-and-christianity/ 19 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Even as 330 b.c. as a Roman domus67 in Auch, France (near ancient city of Augusta Auscorum) was being renovated with Ivy & Heart shaped leaves, scrolled hearts and trident borders were these yet Christian motifs disguised in early times?? As you will soon see the Byzantine Silver plate w/niello inscription ca.610-613/628-630 created in the time of (an emperor liking David & Solomon) Heraclius has 12 niello(blackish-gray) Ivy-shaped hearts surrounding the monogram of Christ. Was Heraclius bringing back an Ivy heart shaped leaf style found in classical Hellenistic Greek art to become new again? As in the ‘born again New’ reference in John 3:1-21? The suggestion I propose is that the Ivy leaves shape prior to the 1stC b.c. did have a different meaning versus the heart leaf imagery after 1st-4thC+ a.d. as the new Greek Christians word spread from the Holy land and back to Rome. The dual nature (positive - pleasant fellow & negative aspects – drunk, behave in strange ways68) of the winegod may lend to the 2-3 different shapes of the wine grape/ivy/heart shaped leaves. Many of the pottery examples prior to the nea/new Christian message appear to be more floral in nature in the Hellenistic period69 versus the hearts/ivy occasionally used for symbols of (grape vines) the Greek wine70 god Dionysus ca.1stC b.c. Parthenian period. The heart shaped leaves in mosaics appear more voluptuous (rounded, not leaf like) and are created differently than the ivy leaves that are sometimes side by side in the same works. Occasionaly Dionysos is found with a wreath like crown of red-attic heart shaped leaves about his head71. The small hearts in the ancient Greek pottery with Dionysius maybe a personification of the mischievous feeling (passion, sensual things) a person has after drinking wine, not actual love. Early Jewish-Christian images prior to the 1st century was frowned upon and sometimes outright destroyed. The issue is easily explained due to the Jewish and Christian taking to ‘heart’, no pun intended with the ‘idolatry’ of worshipping with images thought to be idol like not relating to Jewish-Christian theology. Roman ‘Domus’ found 2017 in Auch, France https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2017/07/roman-domus-with-mosaicfloors.html#k4DRBk5JpzKKtsfV.97 68 Thompson, Kristi page on Dionysos dual nature http://dionysia.org/greek/dionysos/thompson/dionysos.html 69 Terracotta Hadra water jug 3rdC b.c. Greek,Egypt https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/245569 70 Rhyton wildcat vessel Parthian 1stC b.c. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/326623 71 Dionysos https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dionysos_thiasos_Staatliche_Antikensammlungen_2344.jpg Museum Antiker Kleinkunst, Munich 67 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 20 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Leaf shapes Some typical shapes in nature, also used in art and military shield designs. These maybe cross-referenced to help with easier classification of shield shapes. Fig. 10- Leaf table of Shapes & Morphology resembling various Byzantine motifs. Illustr’n from visual cross-reference.72 Monograms & Pictograms For the Jewish, Greecian and Christians in the days before and after Christs crucifixion they hid religious art (due to the Roman nature, laws, religions, politics and Hebrew customs) in Cryptogrammatic images on mosaics and stone artefacts to appear as geometric figures and natural objects of the times. Much of the early Christian or Judaism art had to use pagan objects that could be related to Christian symbology and so these artistic imageries took on a new meaning albeit surreptitiously on the eyes of anyone passing through religious assemblages either in the Greek or Hebrew communities. Later, many icons began to surface as Christianity was accepted, like the Ichthys (fish), peacocks, lamb of God, and anchors, just to name a few. The combination of word and image were “appropriate for the illiterate in pre-Christian themes” (Boeft & Poll 1999,125). The illiterates were known as the Greek word agrammatoi, ‘without letters’73. Now, as you will soon see, additional symbolon(symbol) & gram (sign or writing)74 motifs will be added to the Judeo-Christian collective http://www.indiahomeclub.com/botanical_garden/bot_leaf_shapes.php and/or T. Winterhalt 2004. The ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario, pp. 16-18. and/or http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/courses/plb102/lab1.html 73 Thomas, Rosalind. 1992. Literacy and Orality in Ancient Greece. p154 74 Symbol is of Greek origin Symbolon. Gram also, a sign of writing. Pictogram a Latin Greek combination of pictus + gram. Ninth Int’l Symposium on Human Factors in Telecomctn p104 72 21 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY including the Fig/Ivy leaf heart, Pelta Scrolled heart, Alpha Iota Spear Tip, Inverted Heart, and many more. “From the Hellenistic period, Hebrew scribes used a range of techniques to hide the name of God in the texts with a Tetragrammaton ( or YHWH), so that only certain Jews could intone” (Garipzanov 2018, 27). This acronym variant of hiding a larger name or combining letters to form a phrase for the personal name of God appears to be the precursor to the Sacred Names or nomina sacra (=Monograms/Christograms). The Jewish leaders “believed that the privledge to pronounce God’s names was reserved onluy for the Temple” and that “one should not disclose the name to foreingers (Greek), as it is written (Gertoux 2002, 9)”. So, why wouldn’t the Greeks come up with their own variation for the name of God since they were also re-writing the Holy texts. The Levantine texts from Qumran cave 4 ca.2nd-1stC or ~100 b.c.75 parchment rolls76 render the Tetragrammaton as Yaw (written as IAω), pronounced Yau. Gertoux describes many variations of the Tetragrammaton in Roman, Greek and Latin from various historians. The acronym IAω may have a literal phrase as “I am the First (Alpha) and the Last(O[ω]mega). A few other references in the Torah explain that YHVH was only to be pronounced in the Temple (Sifre Number 39), or in daily priestly blessing (Mishnah, Sotah 7:6) or confession of high priest on Day of Attonement (Mishnah, Yoma 6:2) or that a substitute was needed for the Unutterable name (Adonai, Lord, literally, “my lords”).77 There are many variations of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton for God in the early , IAW, IW or YW, written in Greek or manuscripts and Dead Sea Scrolls as KU, PIPI, ZZ O Paleo-Hebrew78. See other forms of tetragrammaton referenced79 including IA, AIA, etc. Many Christograms & Pictogram images represent a concept of duality/dualism(divine triad developed later80), pairing and unity of opposites ie., AlphaO(w)mega (First/Beg & Last/End), IXOYE (wheel cross/Star of David & Rosette/Veil), Inverted Heart (trigrammaton for G-d & Bread/Word), Tree of Life (Knowledge & Crucification/Life),Father & Son (God the Father & God the Son) etc.. This Duality enables these monograms to position in any form as Above & Below, Left & Right, Heaven & Earth, God & Christ, David & Solomon, King & Servant in which this “duality was an oxymoron to the Jewish and Roman minds”81 of the times. Monograms or Gertoux, Gerard 2002. The Name of God Y.eH.oW.aH Which is pronounced as it is Written I_Eh_oU_Ah. p11. 76 SBL Atlanta 2003, Exploring Greek Jewish Scribal Practices: The Evidence from the Earliest LXX/OG Fragments http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rak/jewpap/sbl2003.htm 77 Bivin, David 2016. Jesus and the Oral Torah: The Unutterable Name of God. https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2087/ 78 The Greek Bible and the History of Hellenic Judaism http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rak/jewpap/sbl2003.htm http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rak//lxxjewpap/tetragram.jpg 79 Tetragrammaton http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/14346-tetragrammaton 80 Phillip Schaff, Samuel Jackson, David Schaff 1891. A Religious Encyclopaedia: Or Dictionary of Biblical, Historical, Doctrinal, and Practical Theology. Volume 4 p2395 81 Street, R. Alan. 2013. Heaven on Earth: Experincing the Kindgom of God in the Here and Now. p77. 75 22 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Christograms with alpha & omega appear more commonly in the 320’s a.d. and escalate by the 370’s.82 Monograms were a sign of authority, power, secrecy and knowledge of the wearer or ‘place’ where the acronymogram image was present. Part of the secrecy was that only other persons who knew any inkling of the Greek characters could understand the beliefs of that person – a coded ring in the holy high regards of their beliefs. One of the Pictograms I noticed was the so-called Inverted heart as I believed it was NOT just a heart image, there was something more. So, looking at some of the interesting characters found in Ravenna churches and various artifacts is a particular ‘ ’ character font got me to dig a little deeper. This ‘Greek’ font is derived from a stone inscription of the so-called Theodotus style during the 1st century (60-70 a.d83) written in Greek found in 1913 @ Mt. Ophel (City of David) south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem84. Due to the stone being written in Uncial characters (Uppercase) the is no lowercase ‘ω’ Omega only -> ‘Ω’. Theodotus describes his father, grand-father “as priests and archisynagogoi, who together with the elders and Simondies established the synagogue (Hachlili 2013, 524) and functions in the inscription were for reading the Torah and for teaching the commandments. This particular stone provides more than just the single font for the letter (Fig. 35) for the three Theodotus variations of the letter ‘A’. One last concept you may notice is that object counts or letters in Art may have a (Hebrew or Greek based) Gematria ‘alphanumeric value’ associated as a reference or code/relation in determining some secret symbolism or wisdom. In time, the following sacred “seven ‘holy vowels’ of the Greek Alphabet were frequently repeated, chanted, interpreted, etc (Meyer, Smith 1999, 389)”85. Alpha, Epislon, (Η)Eta, Iota, Omicron, (Υ)Upsilon, and (ω)Omega. Some common Christian monograms (Chrismons/Christograms)86 and Staurogram’s: -Y or Waw/Vav for ‘Y’ in Hebrew was depicted as a tent peg and conveyed the idea of, to increase, and secure87. Vav is defined as “a peg, nail or hook as used for attaching one thing to another” (Benner 2018)88. So, became the preposition wa, which communicates the idea of adding to and or increasing something. ‘Y’ in the Greek Garipzanov, ILdar. 2018 Graphic Signs of Authority in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, 300-900. p69. 83 Ancient Greek fonts https://www.bibleplaces.com/greek_fonts/ 84 Limestone Tablet and unique ‘ ’ styled font inscribed by Theodotus 1stC https://www.kchanson.com/ANCDOCS/greek/theodotus.html 85 Meyer, Marvin W. Smith, Richard 1999. Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Text of Ritual Power. P389 86 Christograms monograms combinations of religious Greek letters https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christogram 87 James @ Yahowahberyth. http://yahowahberyth.com/index.php/home/translating/aleph-beyt/ 88 vav or waw Ancient Hebrew dictionary http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/dictionary/ancient-vav.html 82 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 23 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY word IXOYE for fish (Ichthys) is Upsilon the first letter of Yios (Son)89. The word written from IXOYE acronym is Jesus Christ God’s Son Savior.90 In Judges and a few other books in the bible, it mentions the Hebrew name for Yahweh [Lord]. So, in a fresco (Fig. 231) of Constantine I is Helena’s son, her >Thorakion< shield is showing two ‘Y’s’ dotted on each side of the cross. Is this a reference for the ‘Mother of God regent on earth’? Or where ‘Y’ is placed on both sides of the cross is representative of the >Son of God< and Jesus >Christ< Shield? -†p or Tau-Rho ⳨ which is the Greek letter Tau & Rho combined. The earliest reference may be the Bodmer XIV papyrus (Gospel of Luke 14:27) of the 2nd century in which the . The “Tau-Rho sign can be found work ‘σταυρον’(=cross) was written as Ϲ⳨oΝ91 as an abbreviation for the greek word of (thirty) dated between 69-96 a.d. (Garipzanov 2018, 29)”. -XP or Chi-Rho ☧ 92 which are the 1st 2 letters of Christus ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ. This XP monogram is found on many Byzantine coins and other Christian art work starting around the 3rd century a.d. onward. The Chi-Rho is surrounded by a border ‘<<<<<<<’ “framed martyrs’ wreath (MMoA 2019)”. Found on a Roman or Byzantine bowl with the names Petrvs (Peter) & Paulvs (Paul) ca.350 held at MMoA Praetorian guard shield Italy. 94 93 . Also found on the ca. 546/556 a.d in the San Vitale church in Ravenna, -IX or Iota Chi , an early image for Ιησους Χριστος (Jesus Christ) in Greek. An interesting mosaic pavement found in the Magdala synagogue from the 1stc a.d. appears to show the earliest IX monogram (darker filled pie) and not as easily visible ΙΧΘΥΣ monogram. A subtle, yet smaller black outline ‘not illustrated’ does enclose the black wedges to complete a whole wheel or pie like monogram of 8 wedges. This Meaning of Christian Fish https://wesleyanarminian.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/the-meaning-of-thechristian-fish-%CE%B9%CF%87%CE%B8%CF%85%CF%83/ 90 Christian Wheel IXOYE (Ichthus) https://www.seedbed.com/ichthus-never-knew-christian-wheel/ 91 DVL Vatican Library ms.pap.Hanna.1 folio 1B.10r https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Pap.Hanna.1(Mater.Verbi)/0016 92 Bowl with Saints Peter and Paul, ca.350 A#52.25.1 Fletcher Fund 1952 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468386 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 93 Ibid, A#52.25.1 Fletcher Fund 1952 94 Author Illustrated in the 2019 book: A Shield for the Right Hand of God’s Regent on Earth. Research in the Origin of the so-called >Kite< shield. 89 24 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY also appears to thave the monogram IAω (one above, one below) which incidentally is a divided heart (4 total) too. Although the synagogue hosted mostly Jewish paritioners, many Greeks were already part of the Jewish society during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Was this mosaic design influenced by a Greco-Jewish artisan living and worshipping at Magdala in the 1st century? Does the four Lambda Λ like chevrons also have another meaning? ΙΥ and ΘΥ are nomina sacra forms of Jesus IHCOYC (Iesous) and God ΘεOC (Theos) found in a passage from John I Codex Vaticanus (B) from the (without 4th century.95 Both ΙΥ + ΘΥ can be formed to complete this symbol o(ω)mega) by overlaying the 4 letters (including the Theta\Θ -) and mirror image of the ‘Y’ (above & below) from this mosaic @ Magdala. This IΛW monogram maybe more pre-crucifiction monogram, hence the IX is not truly highlighted as a solo apparent image. -IC XC &/or NIKA became popular after the 6th century. Together I C X C N I K A means “Jesus Christ Conquers”.96 -IH or Iota + Eta used as the 1st two letters of Greek name of Ἰησοῦς ‘Jesus’. On many Byzantine coins a so called “cross potent” is shows on a platform of 2-3 stairs where the ‘H’ is sitting above the mid-point and attached to the ‘I’ beam which extends longer supporting the full cross. In my opinion this is a successfully hidden use of IH as a cross seen as early as Anastasias I (r.491-517) coinage. See (Fig. 199) for a clever use of IH in a Coptic cross tapestry with Λω hidden within hearts from the 7th/8thC. It is well known the Jesuit priests continued this monogram with IHS or IHC being the 1st three letters of ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ‘Jesus’. Many of the Lombard Duke and Princes of Benevento (ca.827 – 851) had this IH/IE cross above a stepped platform.97 Fig. 11- Leo IV Solidus coin ‘IH’ staff 775-780.98 Photo credit Alvin-Portal PDM 1.0.99 Andrews, Edward D. Introduction to the text of the New Testament: from the Authors and Scribe to the Modern Critical text. p267. 96 Hassell, Cushing Biggs 1886. History of the Church of God: from creation to a.d. 97 Keary, C.F 1879. The Coinages of Western Europe: From the Fall of the Western Empire Under Honorius to Its Reconstruction Under Charles the Great. See Plate III. 98 Byzantine Empire, Constantine V, Solidus, Constantinople http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:alvin:portal:record-164191 99 Public Domain Mark 1.0 No Copyright http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ 95 25 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY -ΙΧΘΥΣ or (Iota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma) Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς Θεοῦ Υἱὸς Σωτήρ (tr. Jesus Christ God Son Savior) ichthys/ichthus/ἰχθύς (Fig. 177) used by early Christians as a ‘sign of the fish’/’Jesus fish’ most likely due to the biblical references to fishing with the apostles, Jonah & the whale, and multiplying the fish and bread to feed the masses. A gold rectangular pendant came up for sale at auction100 dating ca.1st-3rdC Roman with alternate last two letters ΙΧΘ C. The Legion II Brittannica ‘British shield’ from the Notitia Dignitatum used this same wheel design101 and is found in fibula102 brooches dating from the 1st – 4th century. Fig. 12- ΙΧΘΥΣ pendant. Author Illustr'd from ebay item.103 The inner Narthex of the Hagia Sophia has this very same jeweled image surrounded by a lentoid shape with pheons attached to both ends appearing similar to a small fish like motif border. Fig. 13- ΙΧΘΥΣ wheel on inner Narthex, Hagia Sophia.104 Cropped image credit Brad Hostetler 2018 CC BY 2.0.105 This Icthys (ΙΧΘΥΣ) acronym symbol can also be transposed into a monogram letter know as an “8 spoked wheel”. The Σ has to be curved in the roundel circle to make this happen. A 6thC Frankish silver ring appears to have this wheel cross monogram106 possibly unknowingly using 100-300 a.d Fish inscription artifact https://www.ebay.com/itm/232638525523 The Secunda Brittannica http://lukeuedasarson.com/NDsecundaBritannica.html 102 Roman Bronze Legionary Parma shield Fibula https://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/8691677-romanbronze-legionary-parma-shield-notitia-dignitatum-enamelled-fibula-33-mm 103 Ibid,. 100-300 a.d Ichthys inscription artifact ebay.com/ item 232638525523 104 Narthex, Hagia Sophia by Brad Hostetler 2018 https://www.flickr.com/photos/bradhostetler/29602116617/ 105 Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 106 Frankish Finger ring 6thC A#17.191.96 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/465148 100 101 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 26 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY the gold/silver gilt as spokes with red glass separating each cog of the letters and a lozenge centered hooking them all together. Fig. 14- Frankish ring 6thC.107 Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo by TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.108 ΙAω / IΛω or (Iota, Alpha, o[ω]mega) ‘trigrammaton pictograph of God’ occurs more than we are aware due to the ‘I’ often hidden horizontally or vertically and inside the Aω monogram or pictograph motif which includes the divided heart and spade. The ‘A’ can be replaced with a ‘Λ’ Lambda Greek letter as I will show on the Lambda section of monograms. The Upper-case Omega Ω/O is more frequently known or viewed in religious art predominantly after the 6th century. 109 circa 1st bce in The earliest reference is probably in the dead sea scrolls IAω the book of Leviticus.110 During the same period 1stC a.d. before 29c.e111 or the synagauge destruction in 72c.e. one geometric style mosaic @ Magdala (Fig. 15) appears to have the mirror image of IΛω cleverly hidden within the mosaic. This interesting mosaic pavement found in the Magdala synagogue appears to show the earliest IX monogram (darker filled pie) and not as easily visible ΙΧΘΥΣ monogram. A subtle, yet smaller black outline does enclose the black wedges to complete a whole wheel or pie like monogram of 8 wedges. This also appears to have 2 monograms of IAW/IΛW (one above, one below) which incidentally is a divided heart (4 total) too. The North & South axis of the mosaic appears to be more significant than the east and west axis. Is the North Yaw in Heaven and the South section Yaw on Earth? Duality is hear again as Heaven & Earth. Although the synagogue hosted mostly Jewish paritioners, Finger ring 6thC Frankish A#17.191.96 J.Pierpont Morgan 1917 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/465148 108 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 109 Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library https://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/explore-the-archive/image/B-503715 110 SBL Atlanta 2003 Exploring Greek Jewish Scribal Practices: The Evidence from the earliests LXX/OG Fragments http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rak/jewpap/sbl2003.htm 111 Bronze coin of Herod Antipas was found at excavation dating to Tiberius (Year 33 = 29ce) https://www.ancient.eu/image/8613/magdala-synagogue-mosaic/ 107 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 27 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY many Greeks were already part of the Jewish society during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Many of the 1stC BCE – 1stC CE “mosaics pavements have local traditions of Hellenistic derivation; however, the black & white mosaics attest to the work created by craftsmen from Italy”112 (Greek?). So, was this monogram mosaic design influenced by a Greco-Jewish Italian artisan living and worshipping at Magdala in the 1st century? Does the four Lambda Λ like chevrons also have another meaning? If, you count the pie or triangular shapes, you have 8 parts, but when you add the four chevron Λ Lambda’s then you now have 12. The smaller 4 Λ corners are only different in size, but probably still a dual meaning. One of them maybe from Isaiah 11:12 “He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters (also corners) of the earth”. Fig. 15- Magdala mosaic symbol 1stC a.d. Author painted from re-prod113 from Magdala.org 2017 mosaic photo.114 Many early Gnostic Christians, Jewish mystics, and Brahman Hindus(?)115(re Pleroma) used the deity ‘Abraxas’ as the embodied form of God which used the acronym IAW or IAO on hundreds of their good luck charms/talismans/seals/rings while this symbolism is supposedly later carried into the Knights Templars and FreeMasonry orders116. See (Fig. 44) a possible Hunnic or Frankish gift (to ally?) from Byzantines ca.400-450 a.d. with the same mostif . Another IΛW occurs in a 4-6thC Coptic vessel (Fig. 42). The IΛW \KQ\k Hachlili, Rachel. 2009 Ancient Mosaic Pavements: Themes, Issues and Trends, p13. Re-prod image from cmfletcher corrected https://theoandtechnology.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/galilee-and-the-golan-heights/ 114 Magdala 2017 https://www.magdala.org/media/photos/photos-magdala-synagogue/magdalasynagogue-mosaic-1/ 115 Abraxas ‘Pleroma’ meaning fullness corresponds to Brahman in Hinduism http://www.iawwai.com/Abraxas.htm 116 Farrell, Nick 2016. The HERMETIC TABLET Sumer Solstice 2016. pp149-152. 112 113 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 28 Iota Alpha Omega Motif BOH =(“Yahweh, God save us”) also occurs as part of a Greek inscription Jewish terracotta oil lamp118 ca.5th-6th century recently sold at auction. J.S. FRIDAY 117 on a A different order (bottom to top) is found on (Fig. 56) the Cyprus or David plates 119 created during Heraclius era ca.610-613/628-630 has IA/A+I monogram IAW together on the bottom arm of a Christogram, however the ω omega attached above to the cross. Some textiles using IAω: -An Egyptian 4-5thC coptic wool fragment (Fig. 40) in Black in Gold has a dual IAω anchor as part of a cross with an ICHTHYUS wheel and diamonds covering this ancient fragment. -See also a textile clothing (Fig. 157) child’s tunic ca.7thC with multiple pictograms of hearts and spades with the IAW or YAW monogram. (Fig. 29) funerary carvings can also be included as an IAW representation. Technically (Fig. 40) can also be an IAW representation if you forget about the 1st impression of an anchor cross. An 8thC Merovingian denier from Touraine, France has an open heart image as a scrolled over (Fig. 52) could include a horizontal ‘I’ from the cross over head. ΙA / IΛ The Ia- is a Greek translation of Yah- (YH), in which Yah, is a shortened form of the divine name.120 Incidentally, Allelu-ia is “Praise Yah”.121 The IA/AI, or ΛI/IΛ bigrammaton is a spin-off for AIW and used later on for the holy warrior motif symbolon here on earth as visualized in the Alpha Iota Arrow motif . When the ΛI/IΛ letters are alternately combined, the character image becomes a delta Δ or triangle shape as seen in (Fig. 73) the heart mosaic of Ktisis. ΙAM / ΙΛM I AM / is another variation of IAω which has just as much significance from the Tetragrammaton YHWH or I AM THAT I AM, ‘Ehyeh asher Ehyeh’. “Ehyeh is the first person from of hayah, meaning “I AM” (S. Joseph 2011).122 Other I AM biblical references: “I am IΛW author illustrated from artifact Byzantine Jewish oil lamp 5-6thC Lot77 2004 https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/an-early-jewishterracotta-oil-lamp-likely-4291003-details.aspx 119 Plate w/Monogram during time of Heraclius 610-641 https://metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468387 120 Gertroux, Gerard 2015. The Name of God Y.eH.OW.aH Which is pronounced as it is Written I_Eh_OU_Ah. p12 121 Ibid, Gertroux 2015 p4,12,70. 122 Joseph, Rabbi Sipporah Y. 2011. The Hebrew Names of God 117 118 29 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY El-Shaddai” Gen 17:1, “And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh ‘the Lord’. Exodus 6:2, “I am the Lord who heals you” Exodus 15:26. “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.” Isaiah 42:8. “For I am the Lord! If I say it, it will happen” Ezekiel 12:25. “I am the bread that gives life” John 6:48, Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world.. John 8:12, and many many more.123 Looking at a simple inconspicous letter =(IAM) that appears on many of Britains Saxon coins may have a much deeper Christian meaning to be able to aquire the knowledge of this trigrammaton & ligature monogram. I AM is referred to as a Leitwort (“lead word”) in which “a word or word root (and its synonyms) is made more meaningful in repetition, clarified or emphatic (Waltke 2011, 117).124 I AM was examined in great extent in Waltke’s Old Testament Theology and is referenced occurring many times in Old Testament passages. I’M A is simply a contraction of ‘I AM’!125 I’M is pronounced /AIM/. The ‘A’ from ‘I’M a’ is subtley dropped from the contraction but is picked up ‘I’M A REX(=king)’etc.. to complete the rest of the title/inscription. You may notice the visual ackwardness of the ‘A’ Alpha on the right vs typically on the left found in Byzantine art. This reversal indicates “that in Christ the beginning and the end are joined as one (Knight 2017)”126. This M†A/MΛ is understood to be a mink mark for Marseille127, France (Massalia) which could also be MAS128, or MASS (Fig. 18), however over time IMA is shown to be converted to IAM monogram between 50-200 years. While the Tiberius coin (Fig. 16) is considered the pre-mature development of the ‘I AM’, I propose it has to start some where. So, in these coins ‘I AM’ or ‘I’M A’ is a ligature or monogram introduction of the ‘lead word’. The earliest reference to ‘I AM’ maybe hidden in the coins of Justinian I (r.527-565), however more visible is the ‘I AM’ / ‘I’M A’ found on the gold solidus coinage from Maurice Tiberius (r.582-602). The 1st coin (~594) reverse reads I ΛM/I’M Λ’ Victori (Victorious) AVCCV (Augustorum) x(globe)xi and below the word CONOE. The ‘I’ maybe taken from the cross horizontal bar or perhaps the base bar, like the 2nd coin or even the ‘I’ vertical beam of the cross. Notice the 2nd coin for Clothair II (r.613-29) king of Franks has an almost identical style on the reverse. Clothair’s coin also reads I ΛM/I’M Λ’ Wolf, Deb. 35 Powerful “I Am” verses – God is who He says he is. https://countingmyblessings.com/god/ Waltke, Bruce K. 2011. An Old Testament Theology. p116. I AM mentioned over 110 pages to ~200 times in related OT. 125 Wesiler, S. Milekic, S.P. 2000. Theory of Language p8. Here I am / Here I’m. I’m (= I am) 126 Knight, Kevin 2017. Alpha and Omega reversed http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01332b.htm 127 Markowitz, Mark 2016. Merovingian ‘Massalia’ mint mark M A. https://coinweek.com/featurednews/coinweek-ancient-coin-series-coinage-of-the-merovingians/ 128 RNS 1952. The Numismatic Chronicle & Journal of the Royal Numsimatic Society. Marseille (MAS or MA) p101. 123 124 30 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY VICTVRIA MIΛ??? Fig. 16- IAM Maurice Tiberius coin ca.582-602. IAM Clothair II coin ca.613-629 Image credit Keary, C.F. 1879.129 Another Chlothair/Chlotar (r.613-625) tremissis from the Marseille moneyer reads on the reverse IMΛ CHLOTARIVN REX.130 A most beautiful prized gold coin ca.620-635 that doesnt include the ‘I’ bar for the IAM but did make history to be the earliest king documented with the Aegean ‘A’ (Fig. 39)on an English Thysmsa or Shilling of king Eadbald (r.616-640) with astephanos (L. Corona or crown) which was also shown on some Justinian (r.537-542)131 coins and a few Merovinigian coins (Fig. 51)as part of the monogram. Did Eadbald being the son of King Æthelberht (r.589-616) and Bertha daughter of Merovinginan ‘Franks’ king Charibert I (r.561-567) aquire these numismatic132 style? The Obverse or front face is inscribed VDV RLD REG[es], the reverse minted very poorly may read NNO EHVƧ †LIUNDVN or †LIVNDVN NNOEHVS. In my opinion the following are corrupted letters in Red TIVNDVB ZZOEHVS. Other possibilities are †LVNDVN LLOEHVS, or corrupt/indistiguishable forms of LONDENV/ LVNDVNI/ LONDENIV/ LONDINIV/ TINVII(R)AZZOEHV(S)133. Perhaps the inscription should be read backwards starting with the word OZZA134 since he did reject Christianity at one time? Translating the reverse in Greek ‘BLGHIT SVNE’ becomes ΒΛΓηιτ ςνηε to English is translatedas ‘Brighton’(?). I’m Keary, C.F. 1879. The Coinage of Western Europe: from the fall of the Western Empire under Honorius to its Reconstruction under Chrles the Great. Plate XI. BM# B.12582 130 Chlotar II, 613-625 tremissis CLOTARIS REX https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=283&lot=241 131 Justinian tremissis coin 537-542 with stephanos rope crown https://www.cgbfr.com/justinien-ier-tremissisttb-,bby_466682,a.html 132 Charibert I or Chilperic I ca.561-584 has a Corona ribbon behind his head of his coin https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=367267 133 CNG reference from Dr. Wayne Collection 2010 https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=325656 134 Hurst, John F .1887. Short History of the Medieval Church Ozza is an exalted goddess whose intercession with the Deity is to be sought. p18 129 31 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY sure the translator is incorrect135. I feel confident the true answer to the inscription may be found on a same period merovingian coin. An interesting perspective just so that you know the IAM is reading correctly from (Fig. 16), king Dagobert I (r.623-634) of Austrasia, the Franks, Nuestria & Burgundy (r.634-639) had a gold triens coin with the uppercase ‘Ω’ † ‘A’ between the cross136 in the same reverse order; omega, then alpha. Dagobert also had a gold tremissis coin of IMΛ coin struck from the Elegius moneyer.137 Another Merovingian example showing the Alpha oωmega on the reverse of the cross, including the ‘P’ Rho is a Gold tremissis of ‘BETOREGASFIT’138 dating between 590-670 a.d. found in Leicestershire County, England in 2006. This coins reverse may also have the lower leg of the latin ‘R’ horizontal as if the reverse should read clockwise I A m. An unknown Merovingian tremissis coin minted at Banassac ca.620-640 by Elafius the moneyer has an inverted monogram of IΛM. ‘I’ on the bottom, then going up ‘Λ’, then ‘M’ legs outstretched. The large pelllet centered between the ‘Λ’ and ‘M’ may represent ‘O’ for Omega. So, the coin reads IΛM TELAFIVS MONETA. The Obverse or face has a diademed male head, cross in front with lambda or forked ends having a pellet in the North and South points of the cross. A few other coins were also used by of Merovingian kings with this Double-S shaped ‘M’. Another Merovingian coin from the Liesant mint139 does have the ‘Λ’ for ‘Alpha’ & ‘O’ for Omega under the cross from the Early Continental period 584-750. Fig. 17- IAM TELAFIVS Moneyer ca.620-640. Author Illustr'd from Antiquitiesproject 2016.140 Charibert II of Aquitania (r.629-632) has also used this same interesting way of using IAM as a cup(?). A double ‘S’ like arms or ‘M’ connected to an orb holding a Cross and under the orb is a Lambda Λ ‘A’ over a horizontal ‘I’. So, reading from bottom to top IAM BANNACIACO (=Moneyer).141 Since the moneyer is not Massalia, the MA reference https://translate.google.com/ Greek to English Dagobert I 634-639 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagobert_I 137 Dagobert IAM tremissis coin ca.629-639 https://www.flickr.com/photos/antiquitiesproject/24257819749/ 138 Merovingian Gold tremissis minted @ Bourges ca.590-670 a.d. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/151516 139 Merovingian France coin 584-750 Lieusant mint https://www.ma-shops.com/wessex/item.php?id=187 140 Merovingian tremissis under Elafius moneyer ca.620-640 https://www.flickr.com/photos/antiquitiesproject/6962752381/ 141 Marczali, Henry 1905 Nagy képes világtörténet http://www.mek.oszk.hu/01200/01267/html/04kotet/04r04f20.htm 135 136 32 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY should no longer be present. But it is and cleverer than before. Sigebert III (r.639-656) also takes up this same design using the moneyer Banassac.142 Childabert III (r.656-661/2) “the adopted” a Merovingian king of Austrasia – his gold solidus becomes very obvious when the platform is as large horizontal ‘I’ slightly crooked and in similar size as the ‘M’ & ‘Λ’ characters. The reverse coin read IΛM CHI†(ll)NILVEBERTVS. I’ve interpreted the †/X cross as a double-L ‘ll’. Fig. 18- Childebert IAM coin 656-661. Author Illustr'd from Antiquitiesproject 2016.143 Aldfrith (+ALdFRIduƧ), king of Northumbria 685-705 a.d. silver Sceat (penny) coin Author Illustr’d from numismatic articles144. The reverse side >animal< has been referred to by many names including ‘fantastic beast’,’fantastic quadruped’, ‘lion’, or ‘dog’ and had a triad for a tail. In my opinion the coin reads † positioned before the (IAM) ldFRidvƧ. The † can be or after the S. Fig. 19- IAM use in Aldfridus coin 685-705. Author Illustr'd from 2 of same coins 2016 & 2018.145 An early 8th century Merovingian silver Denarius uses a scrolled heart as an ‘A’, an omega ‘ω’ as an ‘m’ and the ‘I’ obviously centered (or from the cross). Its reads the ‘I’ Sigebert III, IAM coin 639-656 https://www.coinarchives.com/a/results.php?search=Sigebert Merovingian solidus of Childebert III https://www.flickr.com/photos/antiquitiesproject/24625546615/ 144 Aldfrith coin https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/967581/found-the-penultimate-monarch-in-myanglo-saxon-northumbria-coins or http://kingsofnorthumbria.homestead.com/aldfrith.html 145 2 same coins w/different conditions: NAP member of https://www.cointalk.com/threads/completed-amoneyer-set-of-anglo-saxon-northumbrian-stycas.279085/page-2 & http://www.dotdomesday.me.uk/northumbria_two.htm 142 143 33 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY first, then second the Large ‘A’, and last the small ‘m’. This coin may also be a facial representation for Christ similar to (Fig. 74) the Viking heart shaped face of Christ crucifiction piece. Fig. 20- IAM as a heart motif Merovingian early 8thC. Author illustr’d from Numisbids.146 A Merovingian silver denier coin referrenced as St. Hilaire circa late 7thC or ca.725-50 of Poitiers, France with the partial inscription M R..RVS (Marrius?). This reverse is simply a cross monogram/ligature IΛM and is also described as a “stylized church formed by a cross atop a triangular-shaped stand of a cursive M”.147 On the obverse of the coin the ‘ ’ is in front of the ruler’s face directly across the coin is an omega ‘ω’ blundered behind his head ( over ω). Another coin with this exact positioning of +ω is a gold triens ca.620 of MALLOARLAVNS made by ✣ ERDVLFVS.148 Was the St. Hilaire coin moneyer copying this style or mold from a pre-decessor mint? Fig. 21- St. Hilaire IΛM coin late 7th-early 8thC. Author Illustr'd from Antiquitiesproject 2016.149 One other possible coin with a pelleted pheon (in place of a stephanos ‘rope crown’) was a Merovingian coin from Burgundy, Graye-et-Charmay (Jura) tremissis produced by moneyer +CONTOLO MON with a monogram of GREDACA (of Gaul) ca. 620-640(?) a.d.150 This Gredaca monogram has never been challenged except by a brief mention Early 8thC Merovingian IAM scrolled heart https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=378&lot=159 St. Hailare (?) late 7th century https://www.flickr.com/photos/antiquitiesproject/8172725382/ 148 Same Alpha over o(w)mega positioning MALLOARLAVNS ca.620 gold triens https://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=3701291&AucID=3808&Lot=127&Val=473d1f79a68c 2c9ceab74d331f95bd9d 149 Ibid,. Merovingian silver Denier coin https://www.flickr.com/photos/antiquitiesproject/8172725382/ 150 Merovingian monogram of GREDACA and moneyer CONTOLO https://www.sixbid-coinarchive.com/#/en/single/l28734260 146 147 34 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY by Garipzanov151 in 2008. Garipzanov goes on to advise that “Urban monograms were rarely used on gold Merovingian coins struck before the 670’s”152, so is this the last personal coin of Childeric II (†675)? On the bottom of the GREDICA monogram the ‘A’ (collapsed ‘ ’, not typical & with apparent ‘M’) appears to be a ligature of I over AM GREDICA/GREDACI (my interpretation using the letters from Maurice Prou153). The monogram can be further interpreted as Childeric or Chilperic (upsidedown ‘p’, instead of ‘d’?) from right to left with the IAm used only to lead into the kings’ name. Is the hidden Rx E / REx or Rx F an early version of Rex Francorum? A reason to suspect this is Childeric II is on another Tremissis154 ca.673-675 shows a very similar portrait profile (obverse) of clothing with parallel creases and the (reverse) has a pelleted wreath with a cross inset. Using this coin as a signet does not produce a legible monogram as the letters are reversed and unreadable. Fig. 22- IAM Childeric II coin ca.661-675 or III 743-751. Author Illustr’n & translation. Garipzanov, Ildar H. 2008. The Symbolic Language of Royal Authority in the Carolingian World (c.751-877) p173. 152 Ibid, Garipzanov, Ildar H. 2008. p169. 153 Prou, Maurice 1890 interpretation from Inventaire sommaire des monnaies mèrovingiennes de la collection d'Amècourt acquises par la Bibliothêque Nationale, p73. 154 Childeric II coin with similar portrait style https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=350072 151 35 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A coin located in the British Museum listed as REGINAE maybe for Childerics mother “Queen Bathild” identified as ‘reginae’ Vita Geretrudis accounts between 657-662.155 An interesting find is the “flat heart-shaped scrolls”(BM) that attach the bezel to the ring. Queen Bathild was believed to have 3 children which may account for the 3 pellets across the top center and arms of the ring. The inscription may also provide ‘bacileae’ by removing the partially bundled letter ‘N’, however making this ring more of a Byzantine title, than Merovingian. If REGINAE is correct, then I believe its actuall IAM REGINAE with IAM pronounced over head used as the lead word for the title. This monogram may also produce the word ‘becinae’ written in Italian christian epigraphy.156 Fig. 23- IAM REGINAE 6th-7thC ring for mother(?) of Childeric? Author Illustr’d from BM AF.488.157 Eadbald/Eadwald, king of East Anglia (r.796-798) has an interesting way of using which has a single pellet following used for stopping or starting point(?). If begins there, it may possible to read IAM REX, (back to 2nd line), E DV, (now 1st line) AΓD. Full inscription IAM REX (=king) E DVAΓD. Notice the full size ‘Γ’ done like a greek gamma(?). An interesting quatrefoil with a cross is shown on the reverse. Fig. 24- IAM used in Eadvald coin 796-798. Illustr’n credit Hawkins & Kenyon 1876.158 Rhijn, Carine Van. 2001. Topographies of Power in the Early Middle Ages. Vita Geretrudis accounts p256 Migne, Jacques-Paul 1852. Dictionnair de-epigraphie chretienne, renfermant une collection d’inscriptions. p1066 157 Merovingian gold finger ring AF.488 REGINAE(?) https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=96909 &partId=1 158 Hawkins, Edward, Kenyon, Robert L 1876. The Silver coins of England: Arranged & Described with remarks on British Money….. Plate Kings of Mercia 155 156 36 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Eadberht Praen king of Kent (r.796-798) penny159 also has the following E DBERHT REX on the face or obverse, however the reverse shows the moneyer as ESNE. An interesting observation is the is position directly over RE. Offa, king of Mercia (r.757-796) has the at the end of his name and top of the coin above the cross. Does the this read (IAM) REX (king) † OFF ? The coins reverse also has the moneyer EOB located at the Canterbury mint is described as a “Celtic cross with small cross and pellets in the center and a ‘pheon’ (broad arrow) in each angle” (PAS 2018). Are these spear tips yielding or bowing to the cross as a mark motif? Fig. 25- king Offa coin ca.765-792 EOBA moneyer.160 Cropped photo credit 2017 The PAS CC BY 3.0161 & CC-BY-SA 2.0.162 Berhtvlf (r.840-852) or Berhtwulf, king of Mercia penny added an omega to the IAMω or IAω . This image has been referred to as a ‘barred Mercia ‘M’’163 which generally includes a horizontal ‘I’ across the top. Fig. 26- IAmω used in Berhtvlf coin 840-852. Illustr’n credit Hawkins & Kenyon 1876.164 Eadberht Praen 796-798 penny showing moneyer AESNE http://www.yorkcoins.com/eadberht_praen.htm 160 Hoard coin Offa ca.765-792 U# BUC-295FAC https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/848433/ 161 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 162 Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 163 CNG Coins mentions ‘barred Mercia M’ in numerous Mercia kings’ coinage https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=375926 164 Hawkins, Edward, Kenyon, Robert L 1876. The Silver coins of England: Arranged & Described with remarks on British Money….. Plate Kings of Mercia 159 37 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Ciolvvlf (r.821-823) or Ceolwulf, king or Mercia has a clever way of using the IAM where by part of the A is lopped off and the ‘v’ is extended to a point. Eadmund (r.855-870)165 used the center on one of his coins but with the to make a ‘Y’(?). ‘A’ completed and ‘M’ extended Fig. 27- IAmY use in Ciolwulf coin 840-852. Illustr’n credit Hawkins & Kenyon 1876. 166 There are quite a few coins like the Cuthred (r.798-807) ones where the IAM is on the reverse Moneyer reading IAM >moneyer< example = EABA167 or DVDA(Duda)168. Was this Cuthreds attempt to appear as a regular king and putting the IAM emphasis on where the coin was made instead of his title? Æthelweard a king of East Anglia r.845-855 also put the centered on his penny in a roundel surrounded by his name AEÐELVVEARD REX. Then came king Edmund r.855-869 who blasted the or Λ over many coins and whom would become the Martyr Saint of the Vikings raids. One of his coins features an extra small dash-like bar over the . Is this a horizontal halo? St. Edmund memorial coinage ca.895-918 would continue to reproduce coins with his name from his collection. In 9th century Europe (Wales) may have used the Alpha & Omega in Jewelry and coins, however the inverted heart/Aw imagery had not yet been acquired or adopted. The Nielloed gold ring found in Wales (dates 9thC) has two ’s which appear to have the lowercase ‘ω’ upside down as ‘m’ and being used for the triple legs of the ‘A’. It is inscribed by 2 letters in each roundel † LH ST n. It has been suggested169 the original owner was Ahlstan, Bishop of Sherborne (824-867)? Eadmund 855-870 coin with extended A or M https://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=3752335&AucID=3889&Lot=1074&Val=60ccdceae5 67fde1835e54d503adb1f0 166 Hawkins, Edward, Kenyon, Robert L 1876. The Silver coins of England: Arranged & Described with remarks on British Money….. Plate Kings of Mercia 167 IAM EABA coin of Cuthred 798-807 https://www.spink.com/lot/18012000102 168 IAM DVDA coin of Cuthred 798-807 http://www.yorkcoins.com/kent_-_cuthred.htm or https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=370285 169 Ring of Ahlstan, Bishop of Sherborne 824-867? http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O122079/signet-ringunknown/ 165 38 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Some later finds with the monogram can be found on Masonic buildings or structures, halls/lodges and meeting notes (Fig. 142) in which has been located in Palestine, Notre Dame (Paris), Lausanne Cathedral,170 with two similar symbols found in Holyrood Chapel, Edinburgh & Kilwinning, Scotland. Other jewelry artifacts found (in Hampshire, England) dating from 1250-1350 is a silver cross pendant which is described as having a “Lombardic letter ‘A’”.171 One side has the with very small punch marks around the monogram and the other side a curled ‘S’ & ‘†‘ cross. The Saxons and Merovingians were fascinated with adding this little lead-word >king< or >moneyer< to their coins. ‘I AM’ Λ Lambda Lambda Λ as an ‘Α’ alternative/substitute. In this case the ‘Λ’ can hide an Α ‘alpha’ as a presumed geometric figure, but with a hidden monogram association. The Lambda Λ over O(ω)mega with Pelta or hearts included on a 3rd century ring, see (Fig. 112). A cornice Λ lambda or chevron image occurs in a 1stC mosaic (Fig. 15) in Magdala, Israel. Even the residence a Roman military commander housed four roundels of Lambda crosses inside of a diamond crossing the threshold of one rom to another dating from the 2nd century located near the Roman Colisseum172 and intentially buried by 271a.d. The border mosaics in San Vitale Basilica in my opinion are four Lambda’s meeting together to make a cross . This ‘V’ or ‘Λ’ can be found in a similar crossformat flower decoration made of glass in the Ptolemaic-Roman period (ca.200b.c100a.d). See MMoA ‘Inlay w/row of rosettes.173 Prakashan, Popula 1875. Indian Antiquary, Volume 4. Mason Marks around the world p305-306 Silver Pendant cross ca.1250-1350 Winchester Museum Service https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/236788/ 172 Roman military chief luxury villa and mosaics 2ndC https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article5477207/Incredible-home-2nd-century-military-commander-Rome.html 173 Eight rosettes inlay Egyptian Ptolemaic-Roman period A#10.130.2720 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/570451 170 171 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 39 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY An early reference to Λlpha over oωmega maybe found on a Romano-British key handle (Fig. 111) in the shape of a heart circa 43-410a.d. On the 5thC174 stone sarcophogus of St. Vincent in Mas d’Agenais (Lot & Garonne, France) the Christogram ‘XP’ inside a wreath has a ‘Λ’ Lambda on the West side of the ‘X’ and the ‘W’ omega on the East side. Another interesting find is the two 4 leaf clovers cleverly disguised like flower/rosette – however these really appear to be 4 hearts pointing to a small center pellet. Fig. 28- Le Mas-d'Agenais - Collégiale Saint-Vincent. Cropped photo credit Antoine Garnier 2014 CC BY-SA 4.0.175 The Lambda is also found as a replacement for ‘A’ Alpha (with a Chi-Rho) on funerary inscriptions like an early one (5-10thC?) found in the Merida Museum collection in Spain.176 Five additional funerary plaques have been found in Southern Spain where Lambda Λ was used for Α Alpha all in the Λlpha and O[w]mega carvings. These have been documented and are viewable in various Museums in Catalunya, Córdoba, Sevilla, Osuna and Madrid Archaeological Museums. Fig. 29- Funerary examples of Lambda as 'A' in Spain.177 Illustr’d from Jose I R Cecilia & Julieo M R Punzon photo.178 Vries, Hubert de 2014 Christogram http://www.hubert-herald.nl/Christogram.htm Garnier, Antonio 2017 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Le_Mas-d%27Agenais__Coll%C3%A9giale_Saint-Vincent.jpg CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/4.0/deed.en 176 Two sets of Lambda ‘Λ’ for ‘A’ Alpha on Chi-Rho cross https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/StockImages/Rights-Managed/HEZ-2587085 or https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/early-christianfunerary-inscription-with-chi-rho-crosses-news-photo/501583395 177 Ruiz Cecilia, José & Román Punzón, Julio. (2015). Las placas decoradas tardoantiguas con iconografía cristiana en el sur de la península ibérica. Anuario de Historia de la Iglesia Andaluza. 8. 11-52. 178 Decorated ceramic plaques late antiquities w/Christian iconography south of the Iberian Peninsula https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280136207_Las_placas_decoradas_tardoantiguas_con_iconogr afia_cristiana_en_el_sur_de_la_peninsula_iberica 174 175 40 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Another mosaic (Villa Romana Del Casle) located on the Island if Sicily as Piazza Armerina ca 305-330 a.d. has a particular hunt scene where the presumed owner179/landlord180 is part of the mosaic called the ‘Great Hall’ or ‘Great Hunt’. On a particular section the presumed owner has two soldiers with large round shields and the owner has a decorated tunic or robe. His right shoulder has a roundel with a large lozenge/diamond of which is the identical white Lamda like with slight additional variations outside the cross. Using other characters in the mosaic having a board headed staff and possible the same cross on his tunic, the owner may have been a retired Roman centurion or ordinarious.181 Fig. 30- Shoulder lozenge w/Lambda cross. Illustr’d from Lendering photo 2018.182 Another Lambda cross occurs in the 6th century Coptic textiles called ‘The Fragment with Lozenge Decoration’. Notice the Lambda ‘Λ’ offsets an ‘X’ Chi cross in the center? There is a single dot/pellet under the lambda possibly for and A(?). The Lozenge or Diamond that surronds the Lambda cross has 8 ‘X’ shaped crosses made from the combination of 5 pellets, 4 squares with a center pellet, and 4 two-barred crosses on the cardinal points in the lozenge shape. Actually the motif is sitting inside of an 8pointed star similar to the mosaic in Mor Gabriel for the Spade (Fig. 150) container. Fig. 31- Fragment with Lozenge Decoration.183 Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund. Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.184 Urbain, Laureane 2013 https://www.academia.edu/6159357/The_Great_Hunt_A_mosaic_of_power p2. Lendering, Jona 2018. Piazza Armerina, Great Hall on Sicily http://www.livius.org/pictures/italy/piazzaarmerina/piazza-armerina-28-great-hall/piazza-armerina-28-great-hall-landlord/ or 181 Ross, Ian 2015 notes the “broad staff identifies a Roman centurion or ordinarius” http://ianjamesross.com/journal/2015/7/19/the-roman-army-of-the-tetrarchs-part-two 182 Ibid, Lendering, Jona 2018. Lanlord(?) of ca.330 a.d, Great Hunt mosaic on Piazza Armerina, Sicily 183 Fragment w/Lozenge Decoration 6thC Coptic A#15.444g https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/9177 184 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 179 180 41 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Some Anglo-Saxon Kings of Mercia (Offa & wife Cynethryth) both used a Lambda ‘Λ’ either in his name ‘OFFΛ’ or her ‘REGINΛ’ title185 in the late 8th century ca.757-792 or 780796. Both had a cross bar or ‘I’ across the top of the greek letter. Offa used many styles of chracters throughout his mints so show that both their style of Kingship was not limited to just a few local characters. Fig. 32- Offa use of Lambda 'A' ca.757-796. Illustr’n credit by Hawkins 1887.186 -Coenwulf (r.796-821) king of Mercia used the Lambda on the ends of the cross in similar proportions to the Ravenna basilica cross borders. This lambda technique is referred in the numisimatics world as ‘forchee’ or ‘bi-furcated’ which divides into 2 branches or forks. Fig. 33- Coenwulf use of Lambda Λ cross ends ca.796-821. Image credit by British Museum 1887.187 Cynethryth Penny + CFNEđ.R.Fđ. R.EGIN.Λ https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=122694 Hawkins, Edward 1887. The Silver Coins of England: Arranged & Described, wRemarks on British Money. PlateV. 187 Keary, Charles Francis 1887. A catalogue of English coins in the British museum. Anglo-Saxon series. Vol 1 Plate VIII 185 186 42 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Eanred king of Northumbria (r.810-850) also used a Lambda on his coinage for the ‘A’ in his name † EΛNRED REX. Notice the ‘ω’ omega attached to the top and bottom of the cross? Fig. 34- Eanred use of Λ Lambda ca.810-850. Illustr’n credit by Royal Numismatic Society 1869.188 Aegean λφα/ lpha The Theodotus Inscription with Uncial Greek characters found 1913-14 in the southern part of the City of David. Theodotus (which means ‘God gave’, in Greek)189, the priest mentioned whose family established a number of synagogue’s in the Second Temple period. The inscription stone is believed to have been carved in the 1stC a.d.190, but referring to sometime before Christ (before common era) events. Other researchers have claimed Theodotus and the origin of the font191 occurs around 60a.d. to 70c.e. Did you notice the Lambda ‘Λ’ above the inverted ‘w’ which occurs 3x times on the upper left side corner of the inscription? Technically this can be viewed as 3 Lambda (ΛΛΛ TriLambda). Since Lambda is related to the Hebrew-Phoenician letter ‘‫ ’ל‬Lamed (shepherd staff), I think we’re having another reference to ‘Lamb’ of God, the Holy trinity, or Aw (Alphaomega) hidden in the Greco-Jewish inscription. Based on a little further research, I’ve pushed the ‘ ’ font period back possibly more than 5 centuries b.c. Since this so-called Theodotus font actually occurs well prior to the life of his inscription date and his ancestors, I would suggest this font be renamed to New Aegean/Aegean due to its beginnings in the area around the Aegean Sea. An interesting thought as I reviewed some the Aegean ‘ ’s in various 5-7thC coinage - I felt that the kings for whom these Alpha &/or O[w]mega images hidden in plain sight produced a feeling of intimacy and wisdom of God, reemphasizing the “Divine rights” of kingship. One other item to understand is this style ‘ ’ is typically only written/carved for special circumstances (Reliefs, Dedications, Burials, Religious, manuscripts, etc), , not typically for production environments that necessitate speed for completing the RNS 1869. The Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Royal Numismatic Society, Vol 9-10. p376. Theodotus inscription http://www.cityofdavid.org.il/en/archeology/finds/theodotus-inscription 190 K.C.Hanson 2002 references https://www.kchanson.com/ANCDOCS/greek/theodotus.html 191 Kris J. Udd Ancient Greek font table https://www.bibleplaces.com/greek_fonts/ 188 189 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 43 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY inscription. Previous Paleographers have not included this ‘ ’ in their ancient Greek alphabet tables.192 The Aegean ‘ / ’ Theodotus style greek font table listed below: -A27.122.5 2nd-1stC b.c Greenstone polyhedron ’20-sided dice’ with Greek alphabet letters.193 -A69.15 400-500 a.d. Fragment of Lintel ( + ω), possibly made in Byzantine Syria.194 -A37.11.3 2nd-3rdC a.d. Faience polyhedron w/Greek Alphabet, Roman.195 -A74.51.2393 1stC a.d. Roman, Cypriot bilingual inscription of Julia Donata, freedwoman of Olympus, etc.196 Fig. 35- Theodotus >Aegean< font table1 with bce & a.d dated inscriptions 192 Thompson, Edward M 1912. An Introduction to Greek and Latin Paleography. See table on pp144-147 Polyhedron with ‘ ’ 2-1stC b.c. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/252920 Lintel fragment 400-500 a.d. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468751 195 Roman polyhedron 2-3rdC a.d https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/253530 196 Freedwoman of Olympus, Julia Donata 1stC a.d. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/241947 193 194 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 44 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY X.248.11A,B ca.1stC b.c-1stC a.d Limstone ossuary w/lid inscription of Philoutarion & Annos whom may have been Hellenized Jews.197 A84.58a-f circa before 2b.c found Anatolia, Troad, Assos (Behramkale) in Turkey a dedicatory inscription of the Baths @ Assos by Lollia Antiochis.198 A84.55a-b circa 1b.c between 4a.d. found Anatolia, Troad, Assos (Behramkale) in Turkey an honorary inscription for Gaius Caesar.199 A74.51.2387 ca.1stC a.d. farewell inscription on Limestone cippus of Themistion, Roman/Cyprus.200 The Coptic style is closely related to this with the V ‘cross X’ touching the ground from the letter. A74.51.2431 ca.2ndC a.d Marble inscribed base dedicated by Katagraphos @ Amargetti, near Pathos.201 The Coptic style is closely related to this with the V ‘cross X’ touching the ground from the letter. A26.60.69 1stC a.d. marble architrave inscription from Statilii family from Lucania in Southern Italy.202 Onnophris a Greek man dedicated a Greek inscription in limestone to Cleopatra VII of Egypt (Ptolemaic Queen) who was dressed like a pharaoh giving offerings to Isis ca 51bc.203 The ‘ ’ appears as a typical clean font similar to the Paris donation. A84.47 ca 2ndC b.c found Anatolia, Troad, Assos (Behramkale), Bouleuterion in Turkey for an “honorary decree of an unknown city for a judge from Assos and his scribe”.204 This ‘ ’font is found in the Hades-Pluto cult of Aiane in Elimeia of Upper Macedonia by 2ndC a.d.205 Klaus Wessel’s book has a cross(p60) and the Angel Michael(p94) with these ‘ ’ fonts which both were created well after the 8thC. Ossuary lid 1stC b.c-1stC a.d https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/256777 Dedicatory inscription of Lollia Antiochis https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/dedicatory-inscriptionof-lollia-antiochis-199448 199 Honorary inscription for Gaius Caesar (princeps iuventutis) https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/honorary-inscription-for-gaius-caesar-princeps-iuventutis-199442 200 Limestone cippus of Themistion https://metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/241941 201 Marble base inscription https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/241985 202 Statilii inscription from Lucania 1stC a.d https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/252533 203 Greek dedication to Ptolemaic Egyptian queen held at the Louvre https://www.pinterest.com/pin/494621971548640653/ 204 Honorary decree of an unknown city for a judge from Assos and his scribe https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/honorary-decree-of-an-unknown-city-for-a-judge-from-assos-andhis-scribe-199435 205 Chatzinikolaou, Kalliopi G. 2010. Locating Sanctuaries in Upper Macedonia According to Archeological Data. Stele inscription located on Pg208-209. 197 198 45 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Sanctus Apollinaire (high ‘v’) on titulus & Cruciform (low ‘v’) arms mosaics in the apse of Ravenna church both have slightly different variations of the ‘ ’ as illustrated – both created in the 6th century. Left to Right: on Inscription table PH150131 a Macedonia, Eordaia, Greek inscription on a small votive alter found @ Petres, Florina region of Greece dates to 2nd-1stC b.c.206 Stone stele with inscription207 of the treaty of the alliance between Philip II of Macedonia and Chalcis from Olynthos, Halkidiki, Greece 356 b.c.208 Fig. 36- Theodotus >Aegean< font table2 with bce dated inscriptions. Amphiareion sanctuary209 dedicated to hero Amphiaraos, Oropus, Greece ca 5thC b.c.210 Bilwander photo for museum https://epigraphy.packhum.org/text/150131 or https://www.flickr.com/photos/bilwander/7717596806/ 207 Halkidiki, Grecian stele inscription 356 b.c. https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/Stock-Images/RightsManaged/DAE-96000520 208 Halkidiki stele inscription Salonkika (Thessaloniki) museum 356 b.c. https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/Stock-Images/Rights-Managed/DAE-96000520 209 Amphiareion sanctuary Greece https://www.gettyimages.no/detail/photo/greek-inscription-inamphiareion-sanctuary-high-res-stock-photography/588940741 210 5thC b.c. dedication https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiareion_of_Oropos 206 46 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Inscription on pedestal211 ruins of Temple of Hera (Heraion), Samos island, Greece, Greek civilization ca 7th-6th century b.c. Column212 Acropolis of Athens 5thC b.c. The Omega is in uppercase Ω here. Stele inscription213 on Kameiros, Rhodes island, Greece 4th-2nd century b.c. with heart shaped Ivy leaves on either side below inscription. -Stele with inscription214 at Greek Theatre, Argos, Peloponnese, Greece 3rd century b.c. with large ‘ω’ omega variation. Other examples not shown: A twenty sided (icosahedron) ‘dice’ made of Serpentinite and carved with Greek alphabet letter ‘ ’ inscribed on one of its sides. This Ptolemaic to Roman period artefact actually comes from Egypt between 2ndC b.c and 4thC a.d.. Its on display at the Met.215 A Poros stone entablature grave marker from Boeotia216 ca.125-100 b.c has the letters ΠΑΡΘΕΝΑ (Parthena) both ‘ ’s Aegean style. Included on the stone is a pediment and within is a centered tree ‘of life?’ and 3 vined heart shaped ivy leaves. Below the pediment center of the stone is 3 columns attached together occurring 5 times and in between each set is a rosette eerily similar to a divided hearts cross with 8 petals/halves wedged diagonally into the 4 corners of a not visible cross. Two more larger 8-petal rosettes are separated by a geometric ancient continuous cross shape filling the bottom border. The monastery stone inscription dedicated April 23rd 685 a.d. has eight ‘ ’s across its inscription stone for the St. Paul’s Church, Jarrow, England on the eastern coast of the former kingdom of Northumbria under Ecgfrith.217 Temple of Hera pedestal inscription for A https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/photo/inscription-onpedestal-ruins-of-temple-of-high-res-stock-photography/586892771 212 Acropolis of Athens 5thC b.c. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/column-with-greekinscription-acropolis-of-athens-greece-news-photo/577734459 213 Stele on Kameiros, Rhodes Island Greece 4-2ndC b.c. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/newsphoto/inscription-on-a-stele-kameiros-rhodes-island-greece-greek-news-photo/577735359 214 Stele at theatre Argos, Peloponnese, Greek 3rdC b.c https://www.gettyimages.no/detail/photo/stelewith-inscription-greek-theatre-argos-high-res-stock-photography/588943093 215 Icosahedron dice W/Greek letters A#10.130.1158 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/551072 216 Parthena poros stone 125-100 b.c https://www.benaki.gr/index.php?option=com_collectionitems&view=collectionitem&id=140858&lang=en 217 Beda/Bede’s “The Venerable” monk and life in Saxon England 672-735 a.d. https://saintsbridge.org/2013/12/21/celts-to-the-creche-the-venerable-bede/ 211 47 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY In the 1st century b.c there are at least 3 Jewish synagogues (Migdal, Herodium & Ostia) with columns having the shapes of hearts.218 King Solomons temple in 967 bc from the old testament has 2 main pillars – “And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar and called the name thereof Boaz (1 Kings 7:21)”. Boaz is the name of the left hand, or north pillar and signifies “strength”. Jachin is the name of the right hand, or south and translates to “Yah establishes”. The Heart motif may have come from the high priest’s robes being decorated with pomegranates (of blue & purple, & of scarlet) or the pillars decorated with ninety & six pomegranates on a side a hundred round each of the chains. The Book of Kings believed to have been produced219 between the 7th and mid-6th centuries b.c. have one of the following verses written: 1 Kings 9:3 “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple [HaMikdash], which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart[lev] will always be there”. Other artefacts with the Aegean/Theodotus ‘ ’: Merovingian coins, many of them from have either the >Aegean< ‘ for the letter ‘A’ in their coinage dating from the 500’s+. ’ or a Lambda ‘Λ’ Two square Coptic fragments ca.5-6thC with figures, chickens, botanical ornaments have an ‘A’ pattern turned on its side for the East and West point’s, while the North and South points side have a horizontal divider ‘Am pattern’ and pointing toward each other. Both sets of ‘ ’s is separated by Lozenges interconnected by small blue roundels of white Lambda shaped (North & South points only) heart crosses. Fig. 37- 2 square Fragments w/Figural, Animal, and Potted Botanicals Ornaments.220 Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.221 Heart Shaped Columns/Stones used in Jewish synagogues http://www.bible.ca/synagogues/ColumnsPillars-Freestanding-Antitype-Christians-Architectural-ancient-Synagogue-pre-70AD-standardized-typologyincorporated-spiritualized-similarities-church.htm 219 Books of kings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_Kings 220 Square Fragments w/Figural, Animal & Potted Botanical Ornaments A#15.469a-b 5-6thC Coptic https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/9210 221 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 218 48 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Another Coptic textile ca.6thC with the ‘ ’ extended ‘v’ visible on the North & South cardinal points of this ‘Fragment w/Geometric Medallion Decoration’. On the corners outside the Lozenge surrounding the medallion are Dble Lambda pointers with the North & South having Dble ‘ ’s side by side with a diamond separating them making a potential 3rd ‘ ’ inverted. Fig. 38- Fragment w/Geometric Medallion Decoration.222 Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.223 -The Sion treasures (6thC) does include the Aegean style ‘ ’. Most items (Chalice, Crossshaped Polycandelon, Circular Polycandelon, Procession cross, Paten, Revetment, etc) in this Sion collection have the signature Theodotus ‘ ’ character where text is present more details of this artefact can be seen at Doaks.224 The ‘ ’ does have a slight alteration on the ‘Paten w/Christogram & Repousse border plate’ where the ‘v’ makes an ‘x’ continuing through to form a hidden ‘x’ monogram. An interesting note, the ‘ω’ omega is nearly completed closed on the left & right legs to almost form an Inverted Heart as if the ‘W’ is an upper-case form. A most beautiful prized gold coin ca.620-635 is the Thysmsa or Shilling of king Eadbald (r.616-640) with astephanos (rope crown) which was also shown on some Justinian (r.537-542)225 coins and a few Merovinigian coins (Fig. 51)as part of the monogram. Did Eadbald being the son of King Æthelberht (r.589-616) and Bertha daughter of Merovinginan ‘Franks’ king Charibert (r.561-567) aquire these Christian concepts? The Obverse or front face is inscribed VDV RLD REG[es], the reverse minted very poorly may read NNO EHVƧ †LIUNDVN or †LIVNDVN NNOEHVS. My opinion is the following are corrupted letters in Red TIVNDVB ZZOEHVS. Other possibilities are †LVNDVN LLOEHVS, or corrupt/indistiguishable forms of LONDENV/ LVNDVNI/ LONDENIV/ LONDINIV/ TINVII(R)AZZOEHV(S)226. Perhaps the inscription should be read backwards Fragment w/Geometric Medallion Decoration. Coptic 6thC a#15.444d https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/9174 223 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 224 Polycandelon lighting mid 6thC http://museum.doaks.org/Obj35130 225 Justinian tremissis coin 537-542 with stephanos rope crown https://www.cgbfr.com/justinien-ier-tremissisttb-,bby_466682,a.html 226 CNG reference from Dr. Wayne Collection 2010 https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=325656 222 49 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY starting with the word OZZA227 since he did reject Christianity at one time? Translating the reverse in Greek ‘BLGHIT SVNE’ becomes ΒΛΓηιτ ςνηε to English is translates as ‘Brighton’(=Briton?). I’m sure the translator is incorrect228. Most kings, if not all, were importing foreign christian motifs after this point and king Offa created the portable motif renaissance using every possible motif he could find to cover his coinage. Fig. 39- Aegean A Eadbald coin 620-635. Author Illust’d from Spinks auction.229 Inside a Coptic binding an illumination (ms M.574 f1v)230 dated 897/898 a.d. has the Virgin Mary (in act of breastfeeding->) and Christ Child is surrounded by 2 Angels of whom have a barely visible over [X] and ω on a stole vestment located on their outside shoulder to the image. Mother Mary and Christ are sitting on a throne made of ‘H’ shaped wood of which has a wedge pattern of horizontal ‘ ’s repeated ~9 times on each vertical leg of the bench and ~4 times across the horizontal cross bar. It’s doubtful the artist is using this as the ‘Aw’ ligature due to the characters varying shapes and sizes. Behind Mary’s robe and just below is a beige section (part of the throne/bench?) that has either small upright Blue or Gold hearts or an ‘v’ arrow with a pellet trailing repeated about 25 times. -The Ivory relief of Otto II and his spouse Theophanu, holding their successor Otto III in the act of proskynesis to the image of Christ - this shows 5 Aegean ‘ ’s in the inscriptions. One is [OTTOIMPER TOR]. This artefact dates to ca.963-983 held in Museo del Castello Sforzesco, Milano.231 Hurst, John F .1887. Short History of the Medieval Church Ozza is an exalted goddess whose intercession with the Deity is to be sought. p18 228 https://translate.google.com/ Greek to English 229 Eadbald coin https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=1442&lot=1 230 Virgin Mary and Christ Child ms 574 f1v 897-898 a.d. ML&M https://www.themorgan.org/collection/coptic-bindings/30 231 Castella Sforzesco, Milan. Otto Imperator ivory 10thC https://artidecorative.milanocastello.it/en/content/otto-imperator 227 50 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Aω Αλφα/Alpha ωμέγα/Omega Aω is typically appears hanging from the arms of a cross or Chi-Rho Christogram. Just like with any monogram, letters can be hidden in plain sight. The Coptic wool fragment (ca.4-5thC) here has an >Aegean< attached to the top of what appears as an anchor ‘ω’ , but if the ‘ ’ wasn’t present there would be no further meaning or the need to review. Another clever part of this image is the Greek ‘X’ cross in the negative space and ‘t’ cross made from the Aw characters positioned on the cardinal points or “As above, so below(?)” and not located on the east and west arms. Are the east & west points a clever monogram/pictograph form of the fish >Ichthys< ? Just outside the square is a double diamond/lambda and an ichthys wheel . Looking over this woolen fragment again, this could very well be an IAω monogram in the form of an anchor. Fig. 40- Square Fragment with Geometric Decoration.232 Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.233 A ligature cross of the ( + ) occurs in an early Byzantine Basilica ca.500’s was discovered (end of 2013) at the village of Moshav Aluma, 20 miles south of Tel Aviv, Israel.234 The Church has a large ornate mosaic that researcher have concluded contains a Christogram of the Tau-Rho ⳨ of which it does, but it also includes pheasants bowing to the cross personified as a hidden Omega ‘ω’ anchor shape including the upper anchor cross bar which appears to be a large pinkish red worm in a tug of war between two birds. The archeologist Davida Eisenberg-Degen suggests the birds appear to be “lifting the cross heavenwards”. No one seems to mention this little motif with filled in characters of the ‘Alpha’ pointers creating a ‘X’ shaped creating a ‘t’ cross (from the negative space) above the arms on each site. Outside the roundel are 4 Lambda shape crosses with 2-toned (pink & ruby red) heart like flowers inserted in the ‘V’ crook of the Lambda like a vase. Square Fragment with Geometric Decoration Coptic 4-5thC A#46.157.1 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/59693 233 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 234 Moshav Aluma, Israel ancient church mosaic https://www.vosizneias.com/152943/2014/01/22/moshavaluma-israel-israeli-archeologists-uncover-ancient-church-colorful-mosaic-photos/ 232 51 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A Coptic textile fragment (5th-6thC) fragment with 2 different colors > < character leaf shaped crosses occur. The ‘ ’ is barely visible due to its stylistic puffy leaf like nature. One is a beige cross on a purple background and one is a dark green cross on a beige background. Each cross of the bottom ‘ ’s has a scrolled section as if it’s a leaf (or spade) supported by a tree trunk that extends out further into the roundel. This artefact titled “Fragment with Two Leaves in Medallions”235 can be found at Harvard Art Museum. Shown here is the same style of heart ‘X’ shaped cross includes a center pellet found in the border @ St. Vitale. The only difference is the coloration of the hearts are white with black border in St. Vitale, whereas this image of the hearts are black on a beige wool background and encompassed in a square or diamond boxed in by black >Aegean < or ‘Aw’ ligatures that makes a large ‘†’ hidden in the beige negative space. Both date from the 6th century. Fig. 41- Fragment with Geometric Decoration.236 Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.237 Many Merovingian and Saxon coins have the Aegean ‘ ’ and ‘ω’ letters cleverly across from each238, beside each other, one inside the other or even combined together as in the IAM ligature. A mid 7thC Alemannic ring used the Alpha or O[w]mega in a clever way by using the mirror image between the North and South cardinal points to reverse the characters but also to reverse the peacocks which are intertwined into a symbolic set of monograms. See (Fig. 178) which shows a non-combined ligature but separated intentionally. Another artistic very subtle form of Aw occurs exactly twice between 2 different objects. It requires more thought and imagination to see this. This liturgical vessel (bronze w/silver inlay) dated between the 4-6thC has the >Aegean < or Lambda ‘Λ‘, but with the cross taking the ‘v’ and ‘-‘ position as if this was a ligature between a Fragment w/two leaves in Medallions O#1975.41.5 https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/289164 236 Coptic Flax Wool Geometric wool fragment A#38.689 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/48866 237 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 238 Gold triens 620a.d. mALLOARLAVNS - A across from m/ω https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=3000&lot=127 235 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 52 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY pictogram and letters. Taking the image one step further if you combine the three crosses as if the image from the crucifixion scene there is an additional larger inverted ‘w’= omega. There is a unsual lettering ‘MN’ with the letter ‘N’ offset as if an alternate letter ‘A’ or ‘I’ is included to make the word MNA(=Mina)239 for Hebrew count maneh? A portion of weight rendered today as pound. The Museum has this dated this between before the 7th century, however Maccoull’s240 research believes this Coptic artifact would have been made between post conquest 641.a.d and the 12thC or probably 700-1000ad. An interesting note Maccoull says later than the 12thC one would expect to see Coptic spelling of the letter hai( or Ⳉ), rather than the letter hori(Ϩ)<-reversed S. Eitherway, I found an identical image in Byzantine Octateuch (ms Vat.gr.747) dated ca.1053-70, so putting the monogrammed vessel back a little further. Another interesting discovery, is the early Coptic scripts were writen from right to left241 and if this was used on this vessel with the ‘overbar’ the letters flipped around /inverted they are ΛIW (=AIW), a slightly different order for the trigrammaton of God. Reading the letters MΛI from right to left reads IΛM (=IAM). Fig. 42- Small Liturgical Vessel.242 Photo credit The Walters Art Museum CCZ/CC0 1.0.243 Fig. 43- Byzantine Octateuch shield ms.Vat.gr.747 ca.1050-1070. Illustr’d from original folio36r.244 The Greek Elements. 1971 Concordant Publishing. MNA meaning menah p114. Maccoull, L. (2002). Two Coptic Bronze Vessels in the Walters Art Museum. The Journal of the Walters Art Museum, 60/61, 21-25. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20168614 241 Early Coptic writing possibly influenced by Semitic scripts using right to left https://scriptsource.org/cms/scripts/page.php?item_id=script_detail&key=Copt 242 Small Liturgical Vessel A# 54.2288 https://art.thewalters.org/detail/32074/small-liturgical-vessel/ 243 CCL https://art.thewalters.org/license/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 244 Octateuch ms 747 Greek Byzantine folio36r https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.747 239 240 53 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A very interesting 1-ounce commercial weight found in the ‘Eparch Collection of Roman, Byzantine & Islamic weights’ has a lowercase gamma ‘ ’[OY]245 + ‘ ’ and not so obvious four ‘Γ’ Gamma’s surrounding like a box dating 4-6thC.246 On another journal site it describes the Y/ symbol as being “ΟΥΝΓΓΙΑ (UNCIA)247” or Unciae248 or Ounce, which is a Roman division of weights and measurements. Many more Christograms or Christian related monograms are used with different variations across organizations and in later periods. See book Symbols and Models in the Mediterranean.249 As I found translating some monograms later in the book, there are many issues with trying to translate these Greek characters placed on a personal signet ring, stamp, seal, etc. In one case for a Cyprus plates have an ‘I’ that is cleverly laid across the center beam of an ‘A’. But that seemed an easy since the artist made it easy for the viewer. The researcher Werner Seibt confirmed my thoughts “sometimes single letters are “hidden” in another letter (Seibt 2010, 13) as you shall see later in the book.250 Seibt examples of hidden letters are “Lambda in Alpha or Delta, Epsilon in a Kappa, Sigma in Epsilon, Sigma in Kappa, Omikron in Rho, etc”251 and recently found the o(w)mega inverted as ‘M’ under the >Aegean< ‘ ’. Seen below are the special character font found in many pre-1st century bce inscriptions and then after 1stC a.d. being applied to religious events, manuscripts, art, etc. [OY] per Numisbids https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=1661&lot=334 https://funtofil.livejournal.com/67964.html 247 Weights of Byzantium https://funtofil.livejournal.com/67964.html shows OY as abbreviation for ΟΥΝΓΓΙΑ (UNCIA). 248 Business, the Magazine for Office, Store and Factory, Volumes 31-32; Volumes 1913-1914. 1913, p257. 249 Salerno, Mariarosaria. Barnes, Aneilya. 2017. Symbols and Models in the Mediterranean: Perceiving through Cultures. Chapter 8 250 Seibt, Werner 2016. The Use of Monograms on Byzantine Seals in the Early Middle-Ages (6th to 9th Centuries). Pg13 Abstract 251 Ibid, noted Important problem of single letters hidden in others letters, Abstract. 245 246 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 54 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Αλφα ωμέγα/Aω in Jewelry This Aw is typically the ligature of Alpha + inverted o[ω]mega. Based on Garispzanov’s research the alpha and omega characters occur in Christograms dating from the 320’s. Here are a few items I’ve found that change our translations of museum artifact holdings. A shoe buckle made of Gold and Garnets ca.400-450 a.d. possible given to the Hunnic or Frankish “barbarians in an effort to persuade them to become Roman allies” (MMoA)252. The buckle has a heart or spade shape with a possible embedded inscription of IAW or Aw so the soldiers may also be unknowingly accepting and wore a Christian symbol. Even the entire platform base is fashioned in the shape of a large A\Λ and ω (omega). I could be reaching a little with this artefact, but ask yourself, why create this buckle like this when there are so many other motifs even with limited materials. Did you also notice the triad of 3 pellets? Fig. 44- Shoe Buckle 400-450 a.d. Hunnic or Frankish.253 Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.254 A Jewish Roman mosaic of the Menorah with Lulav and Ethrog from the 6th century has a vie line Pelta shield pointing outwards with the legs inward. The primary image is a long diamond shape with the Menorah, Lulav & Ethrog encircled with an o(w)mega protecting the contents of the diamond and possibly a hidden alpha as a ligature with the o(w)mega offset as the diamond’s point color of grey. This can be found in the Brooklyn Museum website255 not on display. The V&A museum holds a gold Byzantium ring ca 6th-7thC with a cross monogram inscription with the letter SIONA, but in fact another letter is hidden under this Theodotus >Aegean< style ‘ ’ the inverted omega ‘w’. In fact, there are 2 monograms Sion(=Zion) + Aw(=AlphaOmega) or SIONAw. See V&A Museum# 622-1871.256 Showing this ring image to a friend257, he made another discovery I didn’t see. The bottom letter N is struck or emphasized a little more on the right side, the letters now include SION IAw. Now that an extra ‘I’ is also found if the ‘w’ is a latin ‘m’, then the translation can also become “SION IAM”. By June 2019, the V&A museum list the inscription as ‘IOANIS’ MMoA comment/note abt Buckle origin https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464569 Ibid, Shoe Buckle A#17.190.697 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464569 254 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 255 Jewish Roman mosaic Menorah, Lulav & Ethrog A#05.26 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17098 256 SIONAw ring 6-7th century http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O126707/ring-unknown/ 257 ‘I’ found by Jay Walesch of Georgia, June 2019. 252 253 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 55 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY and while this appears to work, the w/m is still un-accounted for in the translation and the criss-crossing this ‘IOANIS’ spelling across the ring seems bizzare. Using the ‘I’ as the starting point the perfect translation maybe ‘IAM ISO’(?), however the ‘N’ (if applicable) is left out? Characters with the pre-fix name of Iso Yab III existed 649-660 a.d. Fig. 45- SIONAw monogram Byzantium gold ring 6-7thC. Author Illustr’d from © Victoria & Albert Museum image ©.258 The British Museum holds another interesting ring with a monogrammed cruciform gold Byzantine signet ring259 item Museum# AF.272 ca.6th-7thC. I’ve translated the ring as it was missing a character for proper translation. The correct inscription is IXOYΣAw. The IX is apparent on the right side of the ring, so the opposite side will also have two characters, the Aʍ. The omega ‘w’ was intentionally upside down as part of the ligature design. This ring uses the same typographic ligature as does the SionAw ring. I can also see where two characters could come from the North & South points on this ring to have additional interpretations. The ‘C’ or Sigma up top has a double strike on the axis turning the ‘C’ into a ‘Y’ or upsilon, which is why the inscription could not be completed by the BM. Another possible monogram inscription is of YΘω (=Yow/Yaω?) going North to South? Fig. 46- IXΘYΣAw monogram ring 6-7thC. Author Illustr’d from © British Museum image.260 Ibid, © Victoria & Albert Museum # AF.272 http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O126707/ring-unknown/ 6th-7thC Byzantine cruciform gold signet ring BM AF.272 http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=59375& partId=1 260 Ibid, © British Museum # AF.272 6th-7thC Byzantine cruciform gold signet ring. 258 259 56 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A finger ring made in Northern France (Frankish) between 6th-7thC has an inscription ‘CART/ERIA’ divided by a wide H, with 2 or more Omegas ‘Ω’ having the legs looped back on the character. Notice the Aegean\Theodotus ‘ ’ has made its ways to the Frankish empire by the 7th century? Carteria is Latin for quateria (quarta/quart)261. Carteria262 was the name of a person born from Peladia the niece of king Theodebert I (534-548) the Merovingian king of Reims. Theo had many exploitations with Byzantium. Fig. 47- Gold Finger ring with Inscription, late 6th early 7thC.263 Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.264 A Visigothic cruciform monogram ring265 from the 7thC has the following inscription (P, Α, Λ, Γ, I).266 Notice the Greek >Aegean <? Per Magnus Snaedal’s book267 the Gothic alphabet is different on some of the character forms. Example R = r, not a Greek P(Rho) whereas Γ = g and Π = p, so the following inscription is more Greco Christian than Visigoth Christion. Using the inscription above this translates to Palgi. Using the following with a more Greek influence I found the following: ΙPΛΙΑΓ = Help, ΙPΛΑΙΓ = Ireland, or PΑΛΓΙω = I swear [allegiance?], or PIΛΑωΓ = Play but if the wearer was gothic and a Greek jeweler created this then PΛΙΑΓ = Plyg would most likely this person’s name inscribed. A Buckle from Byzantium or Avars (Avaric) in the 7th century appears to have a double O(w)mega; A Latin ‘O’ and Greek ‘ω’ under an ‘A’ trimmed off(?) to fit the letter ‘O’. Birch, Walter de Gray. 1887. Domesday Book: A Popular Account of the Exchequer Manuscript So Called, with Notices of the Principal Points of General Interest which it Contains, p218. 262 Bishop of Limoges Ruricius. 1999. Ruricius of Limoges and Friends: A Collection of Letters from Visigothic Gaul ; Letters of Ruricius of Limoges. pg262. 263 Gold finger Ring w/Monogram Northern France 6-7thC A#17.191.104 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464792 261 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 265 Ibid, www.medieval-rings.com visigothic-ring-cruciform-monogram-105397 266 Gaul or Iberian Visigothic ring 7thC ref#357 http://www.medieval-rings.com/rings/visigothic-ringcruciform-monogram-105397 267 Snaedel, Magnus 2010 The Gothic Language p10 www.ub.uu.se/digitalAssets/592/c_592194-l_1-k_snaedal-gothic-language-eng.pdf 264 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 57 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY O[w]mega may have been pronounced just like it sounds producing the O+w together to create this artifact. An incidental inverted heart is found in between. Another possibility is the ‘O’ is actually the ‘Sun’ (ie, Son) over an ‘Aω’ inverted heart coming from the Pagan to Christian conversion. The Son of God raised over the Alpha O(w)mega. Fig. 48- Buckle 600's Byzantium, Avaric 7thC. J. H. Wade Fund.268 Cropped photo credit Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook CC0 1.0 PDD.269 The Masonic order of the Freemasons are not without possible use of the AlphaO(w)mega as seen in their primary symbol dedicated to hundreds of building across the world. This monogram symbol (square & compass) possibly dates after the orders origin from the 12th century Scottish abbey called Kilwinning (St. Winin’s/Winnings) now the Mother Kilwinning/Mother Lodge of Scotland.270 This emblem may denote the ‘ ’ & ‘ʍ’ (AM) or the Alpha over an inverted O(w)mega as inverted ‘ʍ’. The letter ‘ʍ’ was used in merovingian coins to denote the O(w)mega. A 3rd letter can be achieved with an inverted Lambda Λ for the square ‘V’ outstretched for the final monogram of Greek and Latin for LAM. Lambskin refers to the traditional apron worn during the orders meetings. With the ‘G’ inside the monogram does this also refer to the patron as the ‘Lamb of God’? The masonic monogram may lead straight in the Scottish heart shaped brooch. Gold Buckle 600’s Byzantium, Avaric 7thC https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1947.31 https://www.clevelandart.org/open-access (CC0) https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 270 Lodge 0 Mother Kilwinning http://mk0.com/ 268 269 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 58 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY In the mid-18th century ca.1750-1800 a heart shaped brooch ‘pattern by mold’ was found in the eastern woodlands271 (Tribe of Mi’kmaq) of Canada and also from the Iroquois. Then later, ca.1796-1800 Alexander Stewart of Inverness,272 Scotland (NMoS H.1991.2) made a similar duplication of this Love Brooch that is described as a crown with 2 birds head facing outward due to attached beaks. “The Scot’s regarded that any brooch pinned to a child’s garment was an efficient charm against witches, hence the name “witches brooches”.273 If this brooch is repositioned with the crown inverted or the point facing upwards as the Masonic brooches found in North America are shown, then the lpha & O[ω]mega becomes very visible as the pin is a crossbar to separate the two characters. Taking this motif one step further this appears as a Dble Inverted Heart (Fig. 127). It’s my belief the Scottish jewelry smiths may have replicated this motif from an earlier ‘unknown’ specimen from the medieval period. Fig. 49- Luckenbooth brooch of Silver ca.1750-1800. Illustrat’n credit H. Clifford Smith 1908 by NMoS.274 Luckenbooth brooch 1750-1800 McCord Museum http://collections.museemccord.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/M2/ 272 Luckenbooth brooch similar copy made by Alexander Stewart of Inverness ca1796-1800 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/fashion/jewelry-scotland-heart-brooch-luckenbooth.html 273 Parker, Arthur C & Mr. Whitelaw 1911. American Anthropologist Vol 13 pg284-285 274 Smith, H. Clifford. 1908 Jewellery pg165 . National Museum of Scotland MR#H.NGA 208 271 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 59 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Αλφα &/or ωμέγα/Aω on Coinage This is the common reminder to the populous from the kings and emperors that he/she is a Christian ruler. The Aw sometimes is very obvious like many Roman rulers who would just simply place the ‘A’ and ‘w’ between a Chi-rho cross. The issue with thinking these coins are fleur-de-lis motif’s is that the fdl did not really truly come unto its own (in Europe) and fully developed until the late 12th-13th century. The other issues are size and precedence; the larger the size the easier to analyze the image. The ‘ω’ omega appears to be around long before the fdl motif in Saxon coins. The arms and head of the later (13thC+) fdls are much more thick (robust spear like tip) with arms curled back (flower leaf like) & under than the so-called (Saxon/Mercia) lis references (small tip, character like, non-floral) before the mid-11th century. Yes, eventually the ‘ω’ omega is no longer distinguishable and thus the fdl is completely apparent. Ancient Greece Mysia, Pergamon (in Anatolia) the ruler Philetairos (r.282-263 b.c.) has the standard heart shaped ivy leaf on the reverse and Athena on the obverse275. Emperor Licinius I 308-324 a.d. has an uppercase Ω + ‘A’ between Jupiter. Emperor Magentius with an ‘A’ + ‘w’ between a Chi-rho cross. Circa 350-353 a.d. Emperor Justinian I (r.527-565) has many coins of different monographs and styles, however two coins appear with a ’ribbon symbol’ which actually began under Anastasius I (r.491-518) being used by Victory holding a wreath with 2 ribbon like legs. One coin has it floating in the air behind Justinian’s head not attached to his diadem (headband). The other is on the reverse of a coin inverted made in Constantinople, Thessalonica or Nicomedia. Based on other copied usage on Merovingian coins I believe this is a A(Alpha)X(Chi)Ω(Omega) ligature. Since the  symbol was also used in the place/positioning of an omega ‘ω’, the Ω legs can be collapsed & crossed ‘’intentionally malformed to hide the identification of this symbol. Trying to see where this AXO/fits in to the rest of the monogram – it maybe a tetragrammaton (4 letters) for Justinian’s name which incidentally has the ‘’ symbol as part of the monogrammed column276 in the Hagia Sophia standing on the letter ‘ ’. Other numismatics books have listed this small icon as a wreath being held by Victory; but in this case the image is clearly unique without a perfectly round wreath with hanging foliage. Anastasius may have split the ribbon image by putting the ring above the and the ‘V’ coming out of the top of a ‘T’ to make a ‘Y’(?). Another possible discovery while researching the anchor (fish) cross is that during the Coptic period in Egypt, those 3rd-4thC Egyptian Christians had funeral symbols of carved fish ‘‘ in this same position Philetairos coin with Ivy heart shaped leaf 282-263 b.c. http://www.ancientresource.com/lots/greek/greek-coins/coins-ancient-healing.html 276 Monogrammed Capitals right image https://sarahemilybond.com/2014/06/17/monograms-andinscribed-power/ see also https://hagiasophiaturkey.com/columns/#group-9 275 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 60 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY between stone pillars of which one artefact is located in the Luxor Museum in Egypt277. This character also fits in with the Gothic ‘Visigoth’ alphabet as an ‘O’278 and Greek value of 800. Fig. 50- Justinian coin with AXO symbol ca.527-565. Image credit W.W Wroth BM 1908.279 Many Merovingian tremissis coins starting from ca.605-615+ have simply a large ‘ω’ omega attached to the cross like an anchor.280 Other moneyers that have this image are ΛRLIVRVBRIΛS (Arliurubrias) ca.620-640, Clatiare II to Dagobert I PARISIVS (Paris) ca.620-640, Clovis II ca.639-659) and many more that have unknown moneyers or kings.281 Dagobert I (r.623-634) king of Austrasia, the Franks, Nuestria & Burgundy had a gold triens coin with the uppercase Ω + ‘A’ between the cross282, circa 634-639. An unknown Merovingian Franks ruler (after Chlodovech III) used the >Aegean< ‘ ’ with the literal ‘O’ (for Omega) together in a monogram silver coin ca.700-800 a.d.. Above each side of the Alpha appears to be opposing ‘Lameds/L’s with an inverted ‘T’/Tau cross. The Obverse shows the initials ‘TSI’ with the ‘T’ being +[cross] shaped. The ‘O’ ring attached to the Alpha appears to come from Justinian I Tremisis coin struck around 540-546 a.d. in which he is described holding as a wreath.283 A better example has victory holding the OA wreath and Justinian with the Icon behind his head.284 Another thought, this OA may just be the Omega\Ω legs malformed since in the Merovingian form it takes the place of Omega in this monogram. Fig. 51- Merovingian 700-800a.d coin. Illustr’d from Auction item.285 277 Fish between pillars funerial plaque during Coptic period. Luxor Egyptian Museum http://www.egyptiandawn.com/chapter1.html 278 Snaedel, Magnus 2010 The Gothic Language p10 www.ub.uu.se/digitalAssets/592/c_592194-l_1-k_snaedal-gothic-language-eng.pdf 279 Wroth, William W 1908. Catalogue of the Imperial Byzantine coins in the British Museum. Pp40,440. The ribbon symbol is noted as “i.e OV; possibly an adumbration (in combination with the type) of IOVCTINIANOV, but in this case A and N would be omitted”. 280 See Merovingian coin from Sutton Hoo burial BM #1939,1003.27 281 Index of Merovinginan Anchor/omega cross coins https://www.coinarchives.com/w/results.php?search=+tremissis&s=0&upcoming=0&results=100 282 Dagobert I 634-639 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagobert_I 283 Justinian I coin 540-546a.d. holding OA(OmegaAlpha) wreath(?) http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/justinian_I/t.html 284 Ibid, SB145 VAR Justinian I coin with two OA Icons(?) http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/justinian_I/t.html 285 Merovingian ruler coin with Alpha[O]mega 700-800a.d https://www.ebay.es/itm/163263567229 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 61 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Ecgberht II, king of Kent (r.765-779) a silver penny appears to have two scrolled hearts with the center of each heart linked to a cross, of which has a small pellet in each corner. Cynethryth [+ CFNEđ.R.Fđ. R.EGIN.Λ] wife of king Offa (Mercia) 757-796 coin struck 780792 with her image and an upside down ‘ω’ curled inward almost to complete an ‘o’. A correct ‘A’ alpha appears outside the roundel as part of the inscription. It is believed the coin have been inspired by empress Irene in Byzantium286. Likewise, Offa has this same omega ‘ω’ curled on 3-4 different coins. One has the ‘ω’ in a roundel on the outside of a cross positioned directly center of a box shape. Beorhtric of Wessex (r.786-802) has a perfect ω ‘ ’ mounted in the roundel of his coin, probably minted in Winchester287 around 795. It appears almost identical to Coptic Anchor cross (Fig. 40) from the 4-5thC. He was an ally of Offa and married one of his daughters in 789. A recent discovery for me was the denier coin I refer to as the ‘Shroud of Touraine’ coin due to the front worn off so badly appearing as a figure behind the cloth. This 8th century coin which incendentally comes from Merovingian Touraine, France, not Turin, Italy. The Obverse face wasn’t drawn due to no textual detail needed, only the heart on the reverse which happens to be a scrolled heart over (= ). The coin 288 description is described from French to English. Obverse: “Anépigraphe Church pediment (?) Motif surmounted by a cross”. Reverse: “Anépigraphe Linear pattern in the shape of a heart, with a triangle pointed at the base and surmounted by a cross”. Another similar coin (Fig. 20) uses the large ‘A’ as a scrolled heart with the letters ‘I’ and ‘m’ to spell ‘I AM’. Fig. 52- AlphaO(ω)mega Touraine heart coin 8thC. Author Illustr'd from Sixbid 2012.289 Cynethryth coin, wife of Offa https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=122694 Beorhtric https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beorhtric_of_Wessex 288 Google Translate of website sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=490&category=11018&lot=508112 289 Merovingian silver denier coin from Touraine VIII century www.cgb.fr https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=490&category=11018&lot=508112 286 287 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 62 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Cuthred was king of Kent from 798 to 807. A coin was produced with the ‘Y’ shaped cross with the ‘ω’ omega on each end. Another coin produced with the standard ‘+’ cross and the ‘ω’ omega on each end. An ‘A’ alpha is directly across from a ‘V’ that could be interpreted as a large ‘W’ inside this corner of the cross. Coenwulf (r.796-821) an Anglo-Saxon Mercian king also produced an ‘ω’ omega at the end of each beam of a cross in two slightly different forms of coins. 1st is the moline cross (or anchor cross). Notice the alpha ‘A’ directly across from the ‘ω’ omega on this coin? He also produced another coin with the ‘A’ as the cross ends pointing toward the center. 2nd short cross moline over short cross in saltire (X= St. Andrews cross)290, whereby the ‘ω’ actually curls back to the corner of the cross making 4 divided hearts surrounding a cross291. A 3rd coin not shown is an ‘A’ over top of ‘ω’ omega where the ‘v’ from the Alpha holds the center of the double ‘uu’. Successors to Coenwulf do continue this symbology and sometimes slightly different positioning, size and count in the design, but still obvious to the viewer. Fig. 53- Left, Coenwulf four ‘ω’ omega’s armed cross. Right, Coenwulf four divided hearts IAω on arms of cross in roundel ca.796-821. Image credit British Museum 1887.292 Ecgberht of Wessex (r.802-839) he took the throne back from Beorhtric after his death in 802. His coin is eerily similar with the ‘A’ + ‘ω’ like Beorhtric’s coin, however Ecgberht has added his own image to the obverse293. Saltire, an X for St. Andrews Cross https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltire Conewulf (King of Mercia) coin short cross moline over short cross in saltire https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=319&category=4972&lot=260919 292 Keary, Charles Francis 1887. A catalogue of English coins in the British museum. Anglo-Saxon series. Vol 1 Plate VIII 293 Ecgberht of Wessex https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecgberht,_King_of_Wessex 290 291 63 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Eanred king of Northumbria (r.810-850) also used a Lambda on his coinage for his name † EΛNRED REX.294 See (Fig. 34) use of the ‘ω’ omega to the top and bottom of the cross. Archbishop Wulfred of Canterbury silver penny295 with a large ‘A’ + ‘ω’ hanging almost below & inside the ‘A’. circa 810-815. Ceolnoth maybe the 1st Archbishop (833-870) of Canterbury to use the Greek Chi-Rho cross on an English coin? Æthelweard of East Anglia became king sometime in the 840’s and died 854 and was successed by St. Edmund (Martyr and Saint). One of the coins of Ethelweard has this double ‘oo’ which is referred to a Greek miniscule variation of ‘ω’ omega.296 King Edmund would also repeat this same imagery but with a ‘T’ Tau cross and dble’oo’ in the center roundel of the coin. Fig. 54- AEthelweard use of dbl-'oo' for 'ω' Omega. Illustr’n credit by Hawkins 1887.297 Berhtwulf of Mercia (r.840-853) has an almost identical reverse coin as Wulfred above298. A large ‘A’ + ‘ω’ hanging almost below & inside the ‘A’. King Edmund (the Martyr & later Saint) of East Anglia r.855-869 has some memorial coinage ca.885-915 which has a large ‘A’ with the center cross bar with a possible upside down ‘w’(?). The original Edmund penny (855-869) has a ‘T’ shape (Tau cross) with a rounded ‘ω’ attached to the bottom of ‘T’ centered in the roundel299 of the coin. Aethelstan I was king of Anglo-Saxons r.924-927 and of the English r.927 – 939. A coin from East Anglia has the ‘A’ in a roundel on the obverse and the ‘ω’ on the reverse. RNS 1869. The Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Royal Numismatic Society, Vol 9-10. p376. Archbishop Wulfred coin 810-815 https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/739503 296 Taylor, Isaac 1899. The History of the Alphabet: Aryan alphabets. p.154 297 Hawkins, Edward 1887. The Silver Coins of England: Arranged & Described, wRemarks on British Money. PlateVI. 298 Berhtwulf 840-852 coin https://www.coinarchives.com/w/results.php?search=+Mercia https://www.coinarchives.com/955006680727db3c3f8ffb20e161bab2/img/spink/18011/image00038.jpg 299 EADMUND REX Penny with omega(w) 855-869 http://www.stedmundsburychronicle.co.uk/coinsmiscpage_01.htm 294 295 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 64 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Anlaf Sihtricsson ca.941-944 a Viking @ Northumbria300 also has the identical ‘ω’ cross as Coenwulf and is a duplicate obverse of Ragnald’s coin. This coin’s NCT is referenced as a ‘cross moline’. Ragnald Guthfrithsson ca.943-944/45 has a smaller almost identical ‘ω’ cross as Coenwulf in (Fig. 53). This coin’s NCT is referenced as a ‘cross moline’. Ragnolt also has produces coins with the ‘hand of Providence’, a ‘Tau cross’(or sword?) and a ‘bow & arrow’(or Thor’s hammer?). Aethelred II silver penny with ‘A’ (God’s hand of Providence) ‘w’ in between hand of God coin circa 978-1016. The Æ ligature on the coins may also hide an ΛIE (=IΛM) with the ‘E’ turned side ways as a block letter ‘m’. Even though this coinillustration shows a bar in the A, the coins on auction sites301 have the Lamba Λ for an A. This is the Aethelred whose wife would eventually be married to Fig. 55- ÆTHELRED REX ANGLORum coin w/Alpha + ‘w’ omega characters ca.987-1013 or 101416. Illustr’n credit Gibson 1722. 302 Canute the great. Of This is also the same Aethelred “the unready/ill advised” who after several years of conflict with the Danes (Danish Viking raids) he “ordered slain all the Danish men who were in England”303. This date is now known as the St. Brice’s Day massacre304 [Nov 13th, 1002] and may also correlate to his wife Aelfgifu and the woman named Aelfgyva who is being confronted by a clerics hand in the Bayeux Tapestry {~1070}. Canute the Great (r.1016-1035) has a few different coin types of scepters. Some scepter are 3 pellets surrounding the in the shape of a pyramid or cross using the rod itself. Numismatic coin forms: 1. the pointed Helmet type, short voided cross and the 4 round pellets in the corner (also appearing as 4 hidden shields) has 3-4 pellets as a scepter tip. Anlaf Sihtricsson coin http://www.wolfsheadgallery.com/html/coins/oV1.htm Lambda Λ for A https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=257279 302 Gibson, Edmund & Camden, William. 1722 Saxon Coins Table II 303 Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Abingdon ms, quoted in Ryan Lavelle, Aethelred II: King of the English, The History Press, 2008, p. 104 304 St. Brice’s Day Massacre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Brice%27s_Day_massacre 300 301 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 65 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY 2. the voided short cross coin (with center pellet) and CNVT dressed with roman(?) head bands and a ‘ω’ omega scepter facing down toward. The scepter maybe appearing like a ‘ω’ because the pellet is so small and appears attached the arms(?) A few of this same coin NCT from a different moneyer (Lincoln)305 have shown up with a pellet in each cup of the ‘uu’. This ‘ω’ omega tip has been referred to as a lis-tipped scepter. This is the only Canute coin type with the ‘ω’ omega scepter. Harold I (r.1035-40) or also known as “Harefoot” the son of AElfgifu (of Mercia) of Northampton and King Canute. Harold’s coin has a long cross and in between each quarter appears to be a ‘T’ tau cross with ‘ω’ omega somewhat detached with a pellet above each ‘u’ cup. Another pellet sits below the ‘w’ as if this was a fleur-de-lis. A good example can be seen by Paragon detectorists.306 The Kings that come after Harold appear to repeat this ‘w’ omega motif with a cross, but slightly more traditional fleurde-lis in nature. Henry I (r.1100-1135), Earl Robert of Gloucester 1090-1147 (illegitimate son of Henry I), Bishop Henry of Winchester (1129-1171), Stephen and Matilda (r.11351141-1154) Geoffrey Plantagenet 1129-51 of France shows a small ‘A’ alpha with the ‘w’ omega forming the bottom of the cross. This is referenced as a FVLCO monogram. Canute short voided cross ‘w’ omega scepter https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=463&lot=2300 306 Harold I 1035-40 coin examples http://paragon.myvnc.com/TheParagonMetal/Metal/Identification/Coins/Viking-Coins/Penny/Harold-I-1035-1040AD.html 305 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 66 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Anchor/o[ω]mega Cross This άγκυρα/ωμέγα ‘ω’ omega cross imagery occurs on plates, enameled pendants, coins, bullae, tapestries, stone, etc. This omega form appears to occur well after the development of Christian anchor &/or fish (or dolphins307) which were sometimes produced in the same artefacts. The early tituli (legal Roman church) Catacombs of Priscilla have many roman anchor shapes carved into the burial stones believed to hide Jesus as the fisherman or other subtle bible references like Hebrews 6: 19, ‘We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firma and secure. It enters the inner santucary behind the curtain.’ The more recent verse maybe more recently related to this anchor symbology in Matthews 4:19 – ‘And [He]Yeshua/Jesus said to them, “Come, after me, and I shall make you become fishers of men.” The omega/anchor cross in my opinion was meant as a dedication or signature positionally in leadership under our omega God. The mental debate I had deal with, was, which came 1st (?), the anchor in this shape of the omega cross? Keep in mind most ancient anchors (one hole 2nd Millennium b.c) were round stones with holes in them. The roman ‘stocked’ (lead cross bar) anchor with wood and metal fittings308 developed around 500 b.c.309 In the very early ‘Roman Republic’ period the anchor was ‘V’ shaped with metal tips to dig into the sea bed. By the Byzantine period of Constantine I (r. 306-312 & r.324-337) the anchors were metal, broad dble ‘uu’ shaped and replicated similarly in this fashion all the way into the 14th century. A Byzantine anchor discovered at the sea port of Caesarea, Israel310 from the same period of Christian acceptance in the empire confirms the change of shape (minus cross bar) and the older roman stock style would be used for the Anchor/Omega cross Christian motif as found in the catacombs of St. Domitilla311 (ca.3rd-4thC) in Rome. “When the cross became publicly acceptable, the anchor lost its usefulness (Snyder 2003, 27)312, hence the cross becomes intertwined as an anchor/ omega cross in some Christian iconography. An early Byzantine Basilica ca.500’s was discovered (end of 2013) at the village of Moshav Aluma, 20 miles south of Tel Aviv, Israel.313 The Church has a large ornate 307 St. Vitale Basilica in Ravenna, Italy has 18 Saints and Christs portrait surrounded by 2 Dolphins each. http://www.christianiconography.info/Edited%20in%202013/Italy/sVitalTrArchRight.html 308 Spatafore, Sara 2012. Evolution of Roman Anchors https://www.slideshare.net/Ecomuseum/evolution-ofroman-anchors 309 Ibid, Spatafore based anchor period on Persian Coinage 310 Winer, Stuart 2016. 1600-year-old ship wreck found https://www.timesofisrael.com/divers-find-huge-troveof-statues-coins-in-1600-year-old-shipwreck/ 311 2 different anchor motifs in catacombs of Domitilla, Rome http://www.domitilla.info/idx.htm?var1=docs/en01.htm 312 Snyder, Graydon F. 2003. Ante Pacem: Archaelogical Evidence of Church Life Before Constantine pp2732 313 Moshav Aluma, Israel ancient church mosaic https://www.vosizneias.com/152943/2014/01/22/moshavaluma-israel-israeli-archeologists-uncover-ancient-church-colorful-mosaic-photos/ 67 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY mosaic that researcher have concluded contains a Christogram of the Tau-Rho ⳨ of which it does, but it also includes pheasants bowing to the cross personified as a hidden Omega ‘ω’ anchor shape including the upper anchor cross bar which appears to be a large pinkish red worm in a tug of war between two birds. The archeologist Davida Eisenberg-Degen suggests the birds appear to be “lifting the cross heavenwards”. An interesting motif that no one seems to mention is the filled in characters of the ‘Alpha’ pointers creating a ‘X’ shaped creating a ‘t’ cross (from the negative space) above the arms on each site. Outside the roundel are 4 Lambda shapes crosses with 2toned (pink & ruby red) heart like flowers inserted in the ‘V’ crook of the Lambda like a vase. Many Merovingian tremissis coins starting from ca.605-615+ have simply a large ‘ω’ omega attached to the cross like an anchor.314 Other moneyers that have this image are ΛRLIVRVBRIΛS (Arliurubrias) ca.620-640, Clatiare II to Dagobert I PARISIVS (Paris) ca.620-640, Clovis II ca.639-659) and many more that have unknown moneyers or kings.315 Many Merovingian coins were produced with the ‘omega/anchor cross’ motif. A few I found and many have other secrets not described about the coins. It is believed St. Eligius (died Dec 1, 660)316 or (St. Eloi of the chroniclers)317 is the person and moneyer responsible for creating the Anchor/Omega Cross from Paris under the reigns of Dagobert I (~623 - ~639) & Clovis I (629-657).318 While on the subject of the Omega cross, I was not the 1st to figure this out as noted by Crawford in a quarterly Archaelogy review.319 -A surprise ’anchor/omega cross coin was found in (2003) from an Anglo-Saxon tomb burial from Prittlewell, Essex, England which is believe to be carbon dated from either 604-616 or 575-605 a.d.320 King Saebert died 616 a.d., so the best guess is this maybe his brother Seaxa who died between (575-605), but has not been confirmed. The details of See Merovingian coin from Sutton Hoo burial BM #1939,1003.27 Index of Merovinginan Anchor/omega cross coins https://www.coinarchives.com/w/results.php?search=+tremissis&s=0&upcoming=0&results=100 316 Life of Eligius 588-660 https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/eligius.asp 317 Akerman, John Yonge 1848. An Introduction to the Study of Ancient and Modern Coins. p164 318 Royal Numismatic Chronicle & Journal of the RNS 1941, p28. 319 Crawford 1952,1964. Antiquity: A Quarterly Review of Archaelogy, Volumes 26-28. p77,78,85. 320 MOLA 2019. Southend Burial like Tutankhamun https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-48203883 314 315 68 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY this excavation point to the “earliest example of Chistian Anglo-Saxon royal burial” (MOLA) to date. -A Silver Denier listed as “Cross Ancree” (cross & anchor), 3 pellets in the shape of an ‘A’ on top & sides of the cross including a large inverted scrolled Ω Omega enclosing the anchor.321 -Inverted(?) anchor cross on a globe from multiple Merovingian (Frankish) moneyers (SINAIRVA, BETTONE, BOBOLENUS, PARISIVS & ANGIULFUS) dating from 620-640.322 Other moneyers that have this image are ΛRLIVRVBRIΛS (Arliurubrias) ca.620-640, Clatiare II to Dagobert I PARISIVS (Paris) ca.620-640, Clovis II ca.639-659) and many more that have unknown moneyers (like Ioannes(=John) of Cadolidi/Capolidior)323 of Merovingian kings.324 A Byzantine silver & niello plate has a cross monogram with the letter ‘Θ’(Theta) on left arm of the cross, ‘Ε’ (Sigma) on the right arm, a ‘ω’ omega’ on top of ‘A’ (Alpha) on the bottom beam and the upper cross beam has an ‘X’ (Chi), ‘Y’(Upsilon), a ‘t’(cross shape), ‘P’ (Rho) and the ‘I’ (Iota) was hidden across the alpha – by turning the plate sideways it is may visible. The ‘X’ can also be turned in this direction too. So, the translation is ΙΧΘΥΣ =[Ichthyus](fish) + tP =[tau-rho] cross + Aω = [Alphaomega]. There are 9 characters if you count the cross as a ‘t’, otherwise there would be 8 Greek characters and the ‘P’ would be left out of place. ΙΧΘΥΣ is a monogram for the first 5 letters of the words “Jesus Christ of God, Son, Savior”. Both the ‘I’ and the ‘A’=Alpha superimposed together (IA as Yah?) are read starting from the bottom of the cross upwards towards heaven. Another possibility is a rare or unknown monogram (Greek trigrammaton version of the Hebrew tetragrammaton) of IAω [Greek: Iota Alpha ‘ω’omega] for [Hebrew: YAW], a variation of Yahweh. The Yaw recently discovered can also become the form of the inverted heart (Y under the A attached to the middle of the w) which completes the inverted heart. An accidental find is the word ‘PYX’ which is a small box to hold the eucharist325. Was this plate used to hold the bread for an early 7thC communion? With the ‘ω’ arms outstretched and attached to the cross, the Anchor imagery comes out yet again. Last but not least are the 12 ivy heart leaves, Silver Denier with CR monogram https://www.icollector.com/France-Merovingian-Silver-Denier_i9474599 Merovingian auctions July 2019 https://www.coinarchives.com/w/results.php?search=merovingian&s=0&upcoming=0&results=100 323 Moneyer John of Cadolidi/Capolidi anchor/omega cross found @ Sutton Hoo burial 620’s http://www.colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk/s/suttonhoo.htm 324 Index of Merovinginan Anchor/omega cross coins https://www.coinarchives.com/w/results.php?search=+tremissis&s=0&upcoming=0&results=100 325 Pyx a small round container to hold Eucharist offerings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyx 321 322 69 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY each with their own scrolled ‘P’ rho(?) shaped tendrils as a personification of the surrounding 12 disciples, 12 loaves of shewbread &/or 12 tribes of Israel? Fig. 56- Byzantine Silver plate w/Niello inscription326 ca.610-613/628-630. Fletcher Fund 1952. Cropped Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.327 Greek characters christogram translated by illustrat’n. Heraclius was the eldest son of Heraclius the Elder and Epiphania, of which their family is believed to have Armenian origin from Cappadocia, Turkey328. Heraclius was a famous example of an emperor (r.610-641) “who appears to have intent on establishing himself as a new David”329 based on the creation of these Davidic plates. Notice the heart shapes hidden as if ‘ivy leaves’? It is believed the throne of Solomon still existed during Heraclius era and he may have been seated on it in the Magnaura Palace at Constantinople. During the Persian fighting Heraclius may have invoked (several times) this Davidic language such as “blessed is he who strikes down the sons of Persia and smashes them against the rocks” (Kaegi 2003: 114). One of his legacy accomplishments, says that he returned the True cross to Jerusalem March 21st, 629/630. From this point he was viewed by Christians as the “first crusader” by [1060?]. His iconography appeared (ca.1060) in the sanctuary at Mon Saint-Michel in Normandy, France330. This Davidic / Solomonic comparison will appear again with emperors Basil I and his son Leo VI. After recently reviewing the round Greek or Macedonia shields, this plate looks to be the personified Heraldic Coat of Arms for God. This plate and combined collection were created during the early reign of emperor Heraclius (610-641) which can be viewed at MMoA item 468387 A#52.25.2 dated 610-613 or 628-630 after final victory Wander, Steven H 1973. The Cyprus Plates: The Story of David and Goliath. MetMusuem Journal pp89104. Notes the David plates were probably created at the end of the war, dated perhaps 628-30, after final victory over the Persians. Plate w/Monogram ca.610-613 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468387 327 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 328 Emperor Heraclius https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclius#Origins 329 Alexander, Suzanne Spain 1977. Heraclius, Byzantine Imperial Ideology, & the David Plates. pp 217-237. 330 Baert, Barbara 2008. "Héraclius, l'Exaltation de la Croix et le Mont-Saint-Michel au XIe siècle: une lecture attentive du ms. 641 Pierpont Morgan Library à New York". Cahiers de Civilisation médiévale (51): 03–20. 326 70 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY over the Persians331 (Sasanian Empire). An 8th century roundel tapestry (Egyptian, Akhmim(?)) is believed to have the image of Emperor Heraclius crowned with a purple cape flowing, riding a horse with an ‘H’ shaped fleur-de-lis spear and orb. Even more interesting is a blue ‘X’ has 4 white diamonds inserted into the corners behind him. Two rings that separate a red flame coming out of the center ‘w’ shaped vignette around his image have very small red, white and blue hearts in every direction, many of which are squeezed together as if a mosaic pavement. In 2012 this item was being held @ MMoA item 477556.332 Even the Merovingians were involved in reproducing their coins with Byzantine symbols. In the time of Dagobert I ca.620-640a.d. a gold coin Tremisses shows the reverse with a cross ‘†’ and globe ‘o’ on top with an omega ‘ω’ attached to the bottom of the cross. This particular coin was made at Orleans AVR[ILIA]NIS by IACOTE moneyer.333 Byzantine lead bullas have also been found in Judaea (Judea) dating back from the 5th-7thC. A monogrammed omega cross was found in Israel and recently sold from an auction site in 2018. The AωNo/AωNoc inscription translates to ANNO, the latin word for ‘year’ - but I’m not quite sure what the 4 pellets mean if not for the cardinal points of a cross. Fig. 57- AωNo 5-7thC bulla Judea. Author Illustr’d from Ebay licensed antiquities dealer.334 In a Coptic Byzantine textile roundel fragment dated between the 7-8thC a well-hidden omega cross can be found in the corners of a heart shaped flower cross of which the heart as the colored highlighting outline of the ‘Λ’ and ‘ω’sandwiched between a reemphasized larger ‘ω’. Getting back to the omega cross which has a very flower feel but still very hidden cross. This cross has 2 bars on the arms of which are gold and green ‘v’ heart shapes and a beige arrow motif (AAP) pointing into the ‘v’ heart while coming out the other side is the bottom of the ‘ω’ anchor with a small set of scrolling on the inside. Wow, I could only see this on a second look! This fragment weave is described as ‘Roundel with Multicolored Ivy Leaves’335 and four heart-shaped flowers with white leaves. Wander, Steven H 1973. The Cyprus Plates: The Story of David & Goliath, MetMuseum Journal 8, pp 89104. 332 Tapestry roundel of Byzantine Emperor https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/477556 333 Dagobert I coin with omega cross https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=58214 334 Awno inscription 5-7thC Judean bulla https://www.ebay.com/itm/372534606606 https://www.ebay.com/itm/LEAD-bulla-Byzantine-5th-7th-cen-AD-Judea-Archaeology-ancient-Judaea/372534606606 335 Roundel w/Multicolored Ivy leaves 7-8thC Egypt in Byzantine Period O#1917.111 https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/213696 331 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 71 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A Byzantine Octateuch (ms Vat.gr.747)336 created between 10501070337, and updated in various folios ca.1139-1150-1152338, and then again extensively repainted by a Paleologan artist ca.1280339. In the ms there are quite a few oval shaped shields. On the very 1st oval shield (not tear shape) folio 6r, there are two outstretched ‘ω’ omegas on the shield of a guard behind a haloed king. One is right side up on the bottom, the other is inverted on the top. They are very similar to the ‘ω’ found on the staff of King Geza. Fig. 58- omegas on spear ms747 f6r re-production of shield. An enamel in the golden cross on green background for the ‘Double sided pendant Icon w/Virgin & Christ Pantokrator ca.1100 made in Constantinople340. The omega ‘w’ cross also occurs many times on the top’s of buildings, domes, walls of the Menologian of Basil (ca.1000-25) folio 109, 136, 305 and in the Madrid Skylitzes (ca.1088+) manuscript folio 28, 65. Some Orthodox Christian researchers have called this cross imagery as a “Anchor-Cross”341. The reverse ‘S’ character is also vined on the doors & cornices for many of the scenes where the omega cross appears. Another nice example of the ωμέγα cross is the Byzantine Diadem or “Coronoa Graeca”342 enameled Crown (dated ~1075 a.d.) for the Hungarian King Geza I, in which he has a red scepter under the ω, then above that is a blue cross attached to the center of the o(ω)mega.343 Fig. 59- King Geza I holding ωμέγα cross staff ca.1075 a.d. Illustr’n credit from Sándor Szilágyi 1896.344 A Byzantine enameled medallion of St. Peter (Πέτρος)also has the ‘ω’ ωμέγα\omega on his cross staff made in Constantinople. Comparing the Burlington Magazine 1912 Vatican Greek ms 747 https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.747 Meyer, Mati 2005. On the Hypothetical Model of Childbearing Iconography in the Octateuchs. p245 338 Ibid, folio 75r ca1152. Folio 29v ca1150 339 Kogman-Appel & Meyer 2009, p245 referenced by Hutter (1972) pp140,143-44 re: folios 22v, 24r-24v, 25r 340 Virgin & Christ Pantokrator pendant https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1994.403/ 341 14 types of Ancient Christian Crosses http://orthochristian.com/97480.html 342 Imperial Gift to Geza https://www.pallasweb.com/deesis/history.html 343 Geza I of Hungary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A9za_I_of_Hungary 344 Szilágyi, Sándor 1896. A magyar nemzet története, Volume 2, pg 105. 336 337 72 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY image of St. Peter’s medallion it has lost345 some of the enameling on the staff from some point in handling. Fig. 60- Medallion w/St. Peter from Icon frame ca.1100.346 Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.347 An elaborate bas-relief of the Chi-Rho cross @ Coll de Nargó (Lleida) in the Spanish Pyrenees348 shows the ω omega as part of a small ‘t’ cross within the Chi-Rho circle. The ‘S’ also appears on the bottom beam of the cross. The Coll de Nargó coat of arms is an actual purple anchor with a blue fishing pike horizontally forming the shape of a cross. The upper-case Omega ‘Ω’ starts appear more frequently in the late 6thC to the early 7thC. Take a look at this brooch with 4 x Ω (with curled legs) which happen to be placed across from each other in the shape of an ‘X’ or a ‘†’, depending on disk position. There does appear to be 4 possible small additional X/†’s located between the omegas; however, a few crosses may have been damaged. Its interesting and possibly something to take note that the total characters between the Ω & X/†’s total up to the number 8. This copper, silvered, and gold foiled adornment has a purple amethyst which denotes a higher social status due to the difficulty in acquiring this purple color. Fig. 61- Frankish Disk Brooch ca.550-650.349 Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.350 A verse with anchor reference in Hebrews 6:19-20 “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek”351. The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs, Vol 21 pg 64. Medallion of St. Peter from an Icon frame A#17.190.670 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464543 347 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 348 Coll de Nargo Lleida Chir Rho cross http://www.beyond-the-pale.org.uk/SantAntounin3.htm 349 Frankish brooch ca.550-650 A#17.192.56 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/465361 350 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 351 Certainty of God’s promise https://biblia.com/books/esv/Heb6.13 345 346 73 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY O[ω]mega Column \ ωμέγα στήλη The lone lowercase ‘ω’ omega appears to be added more frequently as a base for column supports or building aesthetics in Byzantine illuminations or other small works of art. The ωμέγα column / ‘ω’ column support does have a similar look and feel of a fleurdi-lis as if the arms of the ‘w’ are curled over to handle the weight and look like a hybrid style of the Corinthian order. Is the fleur-de-lis the same as ‘ω’ arms collapsed? Fig. 62- ωμέγα column. Repainted from various Illuminations or works of Art. Hubert de Vries research contends the Fleur-de-lis is presentative of a lightning/thunder bolt and/or trident head352 and used on the scepters of Kings as a symbol of armed authority. A recent discovery by Ellen Lloyd’s ancient research site has found the fleurde-lis on an ancient silver drachm coin from India from the Ksahtrap Dynasty353 dating to 50-75 a.d. A few of these Indian coins have the Greek title BACILEOC [βασιλεύς\Basileus] which means “King” or “Emperor”354. This Indo-Scythian Nahapana coin looks more like the double headed lightning bolt Vries describes the Greeks and Romans had during Peloponeses 420-400 b.c. In this typical flower like form and common shape we see today, I suggest the Fdl motif may have a double meaning or more across the various cultures. The very best example I’ve found of an early fleur-de-lis (in Greco-Roman) can be found from the archeological dig in Isthmia, Rome on the recovery of the monochrome bath mosaic. It’s construction dating355 is about 150-170 a.d. It has 30 diamond shapes in the borders and in the diamonds are typically four fleur-de-lises attached to a center pellet pointing outward in the shape of a cross356. In my examples the ‘ω’ omega would typically have all 3 arms upwards and not the 2 outer arms folding backwards like an ear of corn. However, the fleur-de-lis i believe is a multivalent motif due to other images like the Lotus flower that becomes this shape over “persistent usage” (Hamlin 1916,9) over various cultures.357 See the silver Plaque of St. Paul ca.550-600 which has both the ‘ω’ columns and the 4 corners with a fleur-di-lis like leaves. This Byzantine item 468347 was made in Antioch or Kaper Karaon(?) and held at MMoA A#50.51.1. Hubert de Vries 2010 Fleur-de-lis http://hubert-herald.nl/FulgerFleur.htm Ellen Lloyds research site http://www.ancientpages.com/2016/10/10/ancient-symbol-fleur-de-lis-itsmeaning-and-history-explained/ 354 Basileus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basileus 355 Isthmia, Rome monochrome bath mosaic https://isthmia.osu.edu/fieldwork/mosaic 356 Ibid, Isthmia Aerial photo view by Pamela M Packard, Plate 97. 357 Hamlin, Alfred Dwight Foster 1916. A History of ornament, p9. 352 353 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 74 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY On a resurrection scene of a hanging tapestry ca.500’s created in Byzantine Egypt has a large ‘w’ omega column capital is holding up the above arch. At first glance it’s not distinguished as an o[ω]mega, but after reviewing so many images, it’s simply hiding in plain sight. The heart shaped pedals on the flower cross has the lower portion darker where the omega letter ‘ω‘ would be, while the lighter color would be the Alpha ‘A’. Fig. 63- Hanging with Christian images 500's.358 John L. Severance Fund 1982.73. Cropped photo credit Cleveland Museum of Art CC0 1.0 PDD.359 A 6thC church mosaic of the Holy Sepulchre(?) inside the Church of Mor Gabriel (near Midyat, Turkey) shows a domed church with 4 ‘ω’ omega shaped column capitals in 360. The capitals appear almost identical to my (Fig. 62) illustration Green and Gold although the tips are more pointed than curled on the ‘w’. On the silver “Cyprus”361 plate ‘Presentation of David to Saul’ made ca.629-30 a.d made in Constantinople has four ‘ω’ shaped columns supporting an ‘Ω’ shaped(?) pediment behind the Bible scene of characters362. The scene is from 1 Samuel 17:32-34. Another plate with ‘David anointed by Samuel’363 in same book on chapter 16:13 also has the same ω’ shaped columns supporting an ‘Ω’ shaped(?) pediment. Hanging Tapestry weave w/O[w]mega column capital. Egypt/Byzantine 6thC http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1982.73 359 https://www.clevelandart.org/open-access (CC0) https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 360 Chung, Anne 2013 © blog photo of ceiling. Cropped & Background removed from capital. http://socalgalopenwallet.blogspot.com/2013/05/mor-gabriel-church.html 361 Cyprus coined from plates origin by way of Cyprus Archaeological Museum, Nicosia in Greece and by K Weitzmann Metmuseum Journal 1970. 362 “Cyprus” Plate with Presentation of David to Saul. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464378 363 “Cyprus” Plate with David anointed by Samuel. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464379 358 75 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 64- Plate w/‘Presentation of David to Saul’ ca.629-30.364 Cropped photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.365 Another insight, is this ωμέγα στήλη (stíli=column) does not fall under any of the Greek Architectural Orders (not Corinthian, not Doric, nor Ionic) including the Composite order366. The typical double ‘uu’ in artifacts shows the ‘w’ legs more closely together than what I illustrate. Another artifact to wrap up ‘ω’ column is the gold & silver Chalice(cup) of Attarouthi, Syria which has Greek inscribed Military saints (St. Stephen, Saint George(?), Virgin Mary) in between each arch supported by the ‘ω’ columns. This culturally Byzantine item 466136 made 500-650 in Syria can be found @ MMoA A#1986.3.2. See the ‘ω’ columns also in the Bible of Leo Sakellarios (Vat Reg Grk MS 1) folios 2r, and 3v(?). This MS dates from mid 10thC or 950’S. See the Vatican MSS Reg Gr 1 ptb. See the ‘ω’ omega columns in the Menologian of Basil folios 35, 36, 38, 46, 47, 52, 125, 131, 233 and many more in between examples of omega ‘ω’ style building support. The MS dates from ca.1000-1025 a.d. 364 Plate with Presentation of David to Saul https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464378 365 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication Greek Column Orders https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_order 366 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 76 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Omega Ω The Uncial ‘Capital’ Omega/Ωμέγα Ω versus the lowercase ω, found much more in art after the 6th century. Many ancient Greco tablets have the Ω vs ω. A Saxon gold filigree & garnet ring from the 7th-8th century was auctioned367 off in 2013, which has an inverted Omega surrounding (listed as volute scrolls) each side of the 6sided(?) garnet. A pellet resides in each of the Omega curls as if the Omega was a face with 2 eyes. The duality of the omegas may represent the duality of God. Adding the ‘blood-red’ Garnet may indicate Christ, adding back the Holy Trinity. 7th – 8thC Saxon ring Lot# 0839 https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/16016936_saxon-gold-filigree-andgarnet-finger-ring 367 77 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Lamed/Lamedh Lamedh (pronounced “lah-med”) is a Hebrew word with a few meanings (Teach/Learner, Yoke, Bind, Toward)368. Lamed is also the twelfth letter of the Aleph-Bet. The early Hebrew for of the character has the ‘L’ in the shaped of an upside down ‘7’. Middle Hebrew has the ‘L’ as an upside-down shepherd’ staff (or hook). The Hebrew, Aramaic (Chaldee) “Lamed is defined as a twig or small branch (Vallancey 1801, lix)”. The Modern cursive form of ‘L’ looks like an ‘S’ + ‘8’ = ‘ ’ only small bottom half completing a circle369. “In Hebrew, the word for heart is lev/leb, which spelled lamedbeit (Sara E Crispe 2013)”. Rabbi Abulafia (ca.1291) teaches us that lev, lamed-beit, needs to be understood as 2 lameds (connected, face to face) because beit is 370 equivalent to the #2. The Greek Gamma ‘Γ’ looks like an uppercase ‘r’ but facing in the other direction. Fig. 65- Lamed script table. Re-Illustrated & reduced from Jeff A. Benners table © 371. Benner, Jeff A. Lamed http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/alphabet_letters_lamed.html Ibid, Parson, John J web site describing Lamed. 370 Crispe, Sara E 2013 ‘The Jewish Heart’ article https://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/424441/jewish/The-Jewish-Heart.htm See Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburcgh heart lamed jewelry at top of page. 371 Benner, Jeff A. Lamed Semitic Scripts tables http://www.ancienthebrew.org/alphabet_letters_lamed.html 368 369 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 78 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A wood painting of Christ ‘Pantokrator’ as a gift from Justinian I (mid 500’s) to the St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai shows Christ holding a bible in his left arm of which the bible has a ‘L’ shaped Lamed (?) conveniently adorned on the corners of a bible cover around a cross boxed in with blue and white jewels.372 This painting of Christ, happens to be “a survivor from a government campaign to purge the state of sacred images”373. Fig. 66- Lamed Disk Brooch Frankish mid600’s.374 Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.375 Is the ribbon ‘’ image on the brooch a double ‘P’ and Greek Rho overlapping upon itself 8x times? A lowercase Latin Gamma ‘ɣ’? The lowercase P/Rho376 ‘ϱ’ does have leg out. Is this double Rho a new Merovingian (Frankish) form of a Cross? It appears this ‘Omega like’ motif comes from Justinian I and replicated in other Merovingian coins (Fig. 50). Another close example of ‘’ image, albeit the legs are spread is the Cabilonnum377 (Chalon-sur-Saône) coin tremissis dated 620-640. The example is being referenced as a “tied wreath” below a circle of pellets with a cross between the letter’s ‘C’ & ‘Λ’. The inverteddoes appear to be referenced as a modern interpretation of Γγ gamma378, however a reference doesn’t determine beginning period of this character. The gamma was added to the Latin alphabet379 as . In Latin this small letter ȣ is for the diagraph ‘ou’. Just so we don’t leave anything out this sign bull astrology symbol from the Greek Zodiac.380 could also be Taurus the The inverted ‘L’ or Lamed appears to be a reversed Greek gamma ‘Γ’ or Hebrew ‘Lamed’ into the shape of the Star of David, also Solomon too. Or, is the ‘L’ shape a Latin or Hebrew pictograph for Christians in the 6 centuries following Christ? Taking a 2nd look this ‘L’ shaped ring on the brooch - it’s actually an under and overlapping 8pointed star similar to the star of Solomon [& David] where it also appears to underlap Christ Pantokrator painting on wood w/description by Bob Atchison https://www.pallasweb.com/ikons/ikon-gallery/christ-pantokrator-from-sinai.html 373 Constas, Fr. Maximos 2014. The Art of Seeing: Paradox and Perception in Orthodox Iconography. p42. 374 Disk Brooch Frankish mid 600’s https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/465810 375 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 376 Lowercase Rho ρ or ϱ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rho 377 Merovingian Cabilonnum ca620-640 a.d https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=863&lot=340 378 Gamma ‘Γ’ listed as modern 379 Gamma added to Latin alphabet as the inverted https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma 380 Morgan, Augustus De. 1847. The Globes, Celestial and Terrestrial. Pg75 372 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 79 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY every other angle of the Star. The Octagon or 8-pointed star is a symbol of fullness, regeneration, rebirth, and cyclical infinity381. The 8-pointed star is an intermediate between a square and a circle, confirming the sense of regeneration (Chwalkowki 2016, 91). According to Jeff Benner’s chart the ‘L’ or ‘7’ shape on the chart, the artifact matches the Greek (500b.c.) or Latin (100b.c.) and/or possibly S. Arabian (1000b.c) or Aramaic(500b.c.) if the horizontal left hook is 45° downward in older periods instead of 90° shown. 381 Chwalkowski, Farrin 2016. Symbols in Arts, Religion and Culture: The Soul of Nature, p91. : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 80 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The WORD/Bread/Heart “The last word of the Torah is Yisrael, Israel, which ends with the letter lamed; and the first word is bereishit, meaning “in the beginning,” which begins with a beit. When we join the first and last letters of the Torah, we have lev/leb, the Hebrew word for (the Jewish) heart (Sara E Crispe 2006) ”.382 Taking this concept one step further, if the first and last letters of his ‘Word(s)’ are combined into a lev[heart], then wouldn’t the ‘Word’ [entire Holy writings] of God be a metaphor for the heart? In the book of John (=Yahuchanon) 1:1-2 ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with (‫=( )את‬Aleph (‫ )א‬Tav (‫ )ת‬God (=ELOHIYM), and the Word was God (=ELOHIYM). He was in the beginning with (‫ )את‬God (=ELOHIYM)’383. So, the Word and God are the Alpha/First/Beginning!! Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and Tav is the last letter384. In a few of the surviving dead sea scrolls dating to the 1st century, in a Septuagint manuscript the term (Yahw = YHWH\God) is written as IAΩ or IAω (for the Hebrew tetragrammaton) in Leviticus 3:12 and 4:27. “IAO can be seen as a translation of YAHO”385. The Codex Marchalianus (ca.6thC Greek version of Hebrew bible386) is designated with a siglum IAΩ to transcribe the Hebrew tetragrammaton. Greek: Iota, Alpha, o[w]mega translation = YAW)387. So, the Greek alphabet conversion would have been the Alpha (A) and the omega (ω) before the 6th century and in the early times of Greek Christianity conversion of the Hebrew texts. The ‘Y’ seems to have been dropped, hidden and/or used in other later monograms to express the usage of the Greek ‘Y’(=‘I’) in God. In the first century 50b.c(?) - 67a.d there existed a synagogue at a the (sea of Galilee/ Kinneret) Galilean site of Magdala. Some believe Greek name Taricheae was the same site for Magdala around 50b.c. It was destroyed by the Romans in 70.a.d. If you haven’t realized this is also the home to Mary Magdalene from the bible. The ‘Magdala stone’ and Migdal synagogue was re-discovered during a salvage dig in 2009.388 On the front side of the stone has a seven-branched Jewish menorah (oldest carved389) surrounded by 2 amphorae jars of oil (probably for the menorah). On the top is a 6-petal rosette (surrounded by 2 Palmette capitals) which symbolizes the actual veil before the Holy of The Jewish Heart - The Secret of Elul, Sara Esther Crispe. https://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/424441/jewish/The-Jewish-Heart.htm 383 Aleph-Tav Hebrew and Greek Alpha-Omega translations of Torah and Bible https://www.cepher.net/what-is-the-aleph-tav.aspx? 384 Pidgeon, Dr. Stephen group Cepher Publishing https://www.cepher.net/what-is-the-aleph-tav.aspx? 385 YRM project https://yrm.org/yehovah-deception/ 386 Codex Marchalianus 6thC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Marchalianus 387 YRM project Greek IAO translation from Hebrew YAW https://yrm.org/yehovah-deception/ 388 Migdal Synagogue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migdal_Synagogue 389 “Oldest carved image of the 2nd temple seven-branched menorah” May 2017 https://www.magdala.org/2017/05/magdala-stone-highlight-menorah-exhibit/ 382 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 81 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Holies (Motti Aviam 2016).390 If you include the petals outside the flower, there are 12 total petals. Six hearts are believed to represent splitting each heart/loaf in half (becomes twelve) as the way the bread was offered on the shewbread (Showbread / Lechem HaPanim = “bread of the Presence”) table including some upside-down cups.391 Twelve is a significant number as it represents the 12 tribes of Israel, 12 loaves of bread &/or 12 disciples. The heart imagery is also found on columns of three different Synagogues (Migdol, Gamla & Gush Halav).392 Fig. 67- Magdala stone ‘top’ view 1stC a.d. Author Illustr’d courtesy Israel Antiquities Authority.393 Aviam, Motti 2016. Professor of Archaeology @ Kinneret College on the Sea of Galilee. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/the-magdala-stone/ 391 AN: “Then He took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to them, sayings, “Drink from it, all of you’. This is my blood from the covenant, ……” Book of Matthew ch26. 392 http://www.bible.ca/synagogues/Gamla-bible-ancient-synagogues-first-century-oldest-pre70AD-Jesusarcheology-top-plan-ark-scrolls-niche-mikveh-heart-columns-bema-Judas-Galilee-first-second-jewish-revoltwars-ballista-coin-76bc.jpg http://www.bible.ca/synagogues/Gush-Halav-ancient-synagogues-firstcentury-oldest-pre70AD-Jesus-archeology-top-plan-John-of-Gischala-first-jewish-war-revolt-Titus-Jerusalembema-heart-shaped-columns-ark-scrolls-78bc.jpg http://www.bible.ca/synagogues/Migdal-Taracheae-bible-ancient-synagogues-first-century-oldestpre70AD-Jesus-archeology-top-plan-heart-shaped-columns-Roman-springhouse-ceramic-tile-roof-50bc.jpg 393 Ristine, Jennifer 2016. The Magdala Stone: The Jerusalem Temple Embodied. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/the-magdala-stone/ 390 82 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The special bread was “always present” in the tabernacle (later temple) of the Lord. The bread was said to have been shaped “like an open ark”, or ‘like a dancing ship’394 from the bread making table called the ‘Shulchan’. The Lechem Hapanim (showbread/face bread) has additional descriptions of the shapes, “like a canoe pointed on both ends & wider in the middle” or another view shaped “like a rectangular carton”.395 In my interpretation if the hearts are bread loaves, then applying the 1stC passage from the Bible where Jesus says, “take eat, this is my body” maybe eating a part of the “Alpha and Omega”. Since the book of Leviticus (Bible)/Vayikra(Torah) was written between 1440 and 1400 b.c and Isaiah during the 8thC b.c, the shape of the bread appears to have an earlier meaning than God is “The First & the Last” or “Alpha and Omega”. There are more symbols and interpretations on the artifact that need to read about the Magdala stone. Question: Why the shape of the bread in this heart shape? A: No one quite knows, but I believe its shaped like this as part of the new 1st century tradition ‘breaking of the bread’ or the ‘bread of life’. Each side of the heart shape being ‘God the Father’, ‘God the Son’ and at the center ‘V’ of the bread heart the ‘Holy Spirit’ released like an aroma to be consumed as part of the remembrance of me (Jesus Christ). This is first mentioned in the book of Matthew 26:26, then Acts 2:42-46 and another ~20 times in the New Testament. However, the concept of the Holy Trinity (triune) is a Jewish concept396 which occurs early in the Tanakh (Torah, Nevi’im & Ketuvim) and Hebrew scriptures (old and new testament) so the heart[bread] image conceptually occurred during the Priestly & Holiness Code ~1400 years before Jesus’s birth. Did you notice the hearts are separated on the table into threes? The trinity symbolized in Bread? So, if the ‘Word’ is the bread [Heart] then we should eat God’s ‘Word’ as Jeremiah did in the bible 15:16 - “Your words were found, and I ate them; and your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name, Yahweh [God], God of Armies”. Some have said if you stand back from the table top with the center images combined form the shape of a fish397. I haven’t made this jump even though Galilee was a huge fishing town, however this maybe a creative side symbol to keep the parishioners thinking while receiving the bread [Word] sermons while Jesus was away. Question: Is the Heart imagery on the Magdala stone influenced at all by the Greek’s? WR: Although, the Greeks left the Jews alone, they lived near each other through many power struggles of Jerusalem changing hands with other empires prior to 302 b.c. Kaminker, Rabbi Mendy. The Showbread: The How and Why of the Temple Bread Offering. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2974301/jewish/The-Showbread-The-How-and-Why-of-theTemple-Bread-Offering.htm 395 Schachter, Rabbi Hershel. Lechem Hapanim , Shemiras Shabbos, and Parnassah https://www.torahweb.org/torah/2009/parsha/rsch_emor.html 396 Parson, John H. Names of God / Holy Trinity (Ha-shilush Ha-kadosh) https://hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/Trinity/trinity.html 397 Smith, Dr. Stephen L. 2016. Magdala Stone http://www.diggingdeep.info/the-magdala-stone.html 394 83 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY During the ‘Greek’ Hellenistic Period398 323b.c – 31b.c., the Hebrew ‘Torah’ was translated into Greek in Ptolemaic Egypt. This copy was called Septuagint “or seventy copies” so that the Greek version made the Torah available in the Mediterranean world to early Christians.399 Early in the Bible, there are Greeks nations associated to the descendants of Noah, so over a multitude of Generations and Millenia of separation Noah’s descendants spoke the same language, worshipped the same God, etc.. So, yes, the Greek’s in some form probably blended their linguistics with the Hebrew to carve this Jewish/Christian temple artifact. Why was the Magdala stone made? The Art Historian Rina Talgam was given permission to review the stone via the IAA. Talgam’s belief is the stone is a 3-D model representation of Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem of its innermost sanctums and the stone creator had either been there or heard about these secret “holy of holies” restricted dominions of the temple. Each relief on each side has a meaning, including the top of the stone is believed to have held another rest of some sort for ‘reading of the Torah’. By making the Magdala stone, it shows a shift to a response of Judaism in crisis and the belief that God doesn’t reside in Jerusalem, but is accessible to any Jew, anywhere and appropriating the great temple artifacts as “miniaturized symbols” in their own synagogue far away from a city of Roman occupation. “This shift, Talgum says, in in many ways a forerunner to New Testament themes of God’s kingdom being not just in Heaven, but also on earth and inside the human heart (Ariel Sabar 2016)”400. “This also the approach from the New Testament: that we should work with God in a spiritual way, tied with the individual devotion to God instead of where the temple, priests or emperor is located”. Hellenistic Period https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_period 399 Ancient Jewish History: The Greeks & the Jews 332-63 bce https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/theancient-greeks-and-the-jews-jewish-virtual-library 400 Sabar, Ariel 2016. Smithsonian Magazine interview. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/unearthing-world-jesus-180957515/ 398 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 84 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Standard Heart / Non-Inverted The right side up heart as we have typically seen it in our modern life was shown positioned vertically, horizontally, diagonally or any other position the artist may decide to use. Many of the standard heart motifs are seen, designed and recognized as flowers (Fig. 68). This imagery was not typically used for imperial propaganda or Christian monogram symbology, but just for the beauty or presentation. A Hun (?) or Alani/Alanic (?) strap fitting silver circular ring with a gold collar attached has a Garnet polished to a 3-dimensional non-faceted garnet which is embedded into a gold foil soldered to the plate collar. The Heart garnet hangs pointing down with a border of gold filigree like beeds all the way around it. The Garnet settings maybe dated to between 3rdC -2ndC b.c. or more recent.401 A 1stC b.c. pair of gold and garnet heart bracelets402 appear to have the same identical polished style of garnet hearts as the strap attachment mentioned aforesaid. An interesting Terracotta oil lamp from the 1stC b.c to 1stC a.d. has 8 heart shaped pedals giving this artifact as a possible very early Jewish-Christian like symbology. This early imperial Roman/Cypriot lamp may have been designed from travelers from the Holy land? Although not a perfect design, the lines don’t line up but could be an early ΙΧΘΥΣ Icthyus like wheel design. Fig. 68- Terracotta oil lamp 1stC b.c. to 1stC a.d. Roman Cypriot.403 The Cesnola Collection by subscription 187476. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.404 In the Tillya Tepe treasure tombs (ca.100 b.c-100 Strap fitting Hun or Alanic M#1923,0716.108 British Museum Greek Gold & Garnet heart bracelets 1stC b.c. Lot 406 2007 https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancientart-antiquities/a-pair-of-greek-gold-and-garnet-5004686-details.aspx 403 Terracotta oil lamp 1stC bc to 1stC a.d. A#74.51.1827 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/241382 404 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 401 402 85 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY a.d.)405 from Afghanistan (Greco-Bactrian) there have been various gold and turquoise jewelry (called bracteate406) created around the heart motif.407 Nearly all of these heart shaped applique’s were worn by Bactrian princesses. One item is a turquoise heart pendant surrounded by four lotus pedals or quotation like mark ‘ ’ motifs surrounding the heart similar to my illustration (better see the real thing). A second item is a 408 pointing to a center garnet pellet and each pentagon (5- turquoise hearts) heart is surrounded in gold. Some hearts are stand-alone with turquoise or simply a long leaf like heart shaped gold adornments. Other items in include a pair of turquoise heart ear rings with a turquoise box attached on the end. A Dagger handle made of gold also has 6 turquoise hearts adorned, with one of them inserted inside a ‘V’ or ‘U’ shaped wreathe hanging from the top occurring four times on the handle. The turquoise heart is a rare motif none found as prevalent in any other cultures before this period. A collapsible crown has many gold coins like leaf/flower shapes hanging from it with 3 leaf spades atop the crown – 2 pointing inward towards each other while the 3rd final spade is pointing upward. This group of Bactrian treasures has much Greek and some Alans/Alani, Hindu, Asian, and Islamic influences probably due to its land-locked Western Asian or Central Asian location and the Cultural period in which they were produced. A Parthian gold pair of earrings (ca.2ndC b.c. -1stC a.d.)409 went up for auction410 in 2011 in which these earrings were made with 4 hearts (made of garnet) in a roundel pointing toward a center circle in the shape of a ‘†’ cross. A space between the hearts make an ‘X’ shaped cross in gold. Both the ‘X’ & ‘†’ are Christian symbols. Is this an early Christian symbolism or perhaps the date of the items are more recent? Another Parthian gold pair of earrings went up for auction in 2007 from Christies dating from the 1st-2nd C a.d.411 The pair has a 6-petal rosette of red glass with a blue background and attached under is a red garnet/glass tear-drop shape with a heart in filigree pointing downward. Barely noticeable is the 3-tiered pelta shield also in garnet Ruins at Talayeh Tepe/Tillya Tepe – Bactrian Gold http://farlang.com/profiles/afghanistan-museum-kabul Afghanistan Hidden Treasures Educator Resource Packet 2008. - A type of small ornament, usually flat and often made of metal sewn or attached to the clothing for personal adornment p115. 407 Samuel, Barbara 2008. Discovery Guide: Afghanistan, Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul. p6 408 Author Illustr’d from Marres, Boed site 2017. Alans history https://www.marres.education/alans.htm 409 Timelineauctions description from Ivan Ivanov https://www.pinterest.com/pin/487444359653330572 410 Ibid, Timelineauction 2011(?) https://www.timelineauctions.com/upload/images/items/2408.jpg 411 Parthian earrings Lot451 1st-2ndC a.d. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-pair-of-parthian-goldgarnet-and-5004731-details.aspx 405 406 86 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY using the heart as the bottom of its border shape. This large tear-drop has a smaller hear also in filigree on its shoulder, so 3 hearts in total. A terracotta oil lamp of Cyprus, Roman (Cnidian early 2ndC) reveals of 5-pointed heartleaf motif. This so called ‘rosette w/5 heart-shaped petals’ (MMoA 2019)412, may actually be a pentalpha/pentagram 5-pointed figure of hearts motif similar to the Tilla Tepe heart design shown on the previous page. Fig. 69- Terracotta oil lamp early 2ndC a.d. Roman, Cnidian. The Cesnola Collection by subscription 1874-76. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.413 Terracotta oil lamp earl 2ndC a.d. Roman Cnidian A#74.51.2204 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/241757 413 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 412 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 87 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Some time in the 4th century (300’s) the flower began to take the shape of a heart as in this tapestry weave hanging “presumably commissioned for cultic or theatrical festivities (CMA 2019)”. This shows 5 heart shaped flowers (in 4 toned colors) as if thrown to the artist/deities and laying at their feet. One of the heart flowers is still possibly attached to the green branch from which it came. The Maenad of course is nude with only a hair piece, ear rings and a gold jeweled necklace, while the Satyr is wearing only a spotted skin around the waist. They are haloaed in a 2-toned split color heart like shape as they lean in and stare at each other. These “followers of Dionysys, the greek god of wine, whose cult flourished in Egypt among the educated of all religions (CMA 2019)”. Fig. 70- Fragment with Satyr and Maenad 300’s.414 Purchase from the J.H. Wade Fund 1975.6 Photo credit Cleveland Museum of Art CC0 1.0 PD.415 A 5th-7thC Coptic rosette embroidered on flax or wool fragment has 4 pinkish-magenta colored petals in the shape of a heart cross attached in the center. Although this item is Fragment w/Satyr & Maenad 300’s Nereid Coptic/Egyptian tapestry 4th-5thC #1953.18 https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1975.6# 415 https://www.clevelandart.org/open-access (CC0) https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 414 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 88 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY believed to be a rosette416, it actually resembles the red dogwood flower albeit missing the stigma in the design. This innocent so called ‘rosette’ appears to more of a heart & Λω on one axis while the other axis appears to have the IAω monogram. Notice the wider and smaller alcoves between the two different heart rosettes? There are quite a few of these examples and not limited to rosette fragments. See (Fig. 63) where the rosette flower is again a 2-toned heart shape with an Λω monogram embedded on all 4 axis in the shape of a cross, separated by a green ‘X’. Fig. 71- Rosette. Gift of Adelaide Goan.417 Photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.418 Fig. 72- Author Illustr'n of Λω & IAω on Brooklyn Museum rosette CC-BY 3.0.419. Rosette fragment wool 5-7thC Coptic A#64.114.265 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/85201 417 Ibid, https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/85201 418 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 419 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 416 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 89 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A floor mosaic (marble & glass) with the personification of Ktisis has many heart like ΛI triangular flowers floating in the air as an X-pattern around a beautifully dressed bejeweled woman with tear-drop ear rings, which includes a man to the side holding a cornucopia offering to her as if offering a gift. The hearts are 3-toned colored if the base stone is included or 2-toned if using the IΛ / ΛI border. Most hearts come together as a pattern of 2-3 hearts. One single set of 4 hearts/flowers appear as a cross in the upper left corner of the mosaic. This personification is believed to have said “Good wishes” in Greek with the full inscription.420 Possibly on the other side of her head would have been another well-wisher with a similar or identical message. “This tradition of personifying abstract ideals continued during the Christian era” (MMoA 2018) in mosaics and gold/silver artefacts around the Mediterranean, Turkey, Cyprus, North Africa and including gifts from areas acquired by Byzantine expeditions. Fig. 73- Floor Mosaic & Personification of Ktisis ca.500-550.421 Multiple funds 1998,1999. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.422 Floor mosaic personification of Ktisis https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1998.69,1999.99/ Fragment Floor Mosaic w/Personification of Ktisis ca.500-550 Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, Fletcher Fund 1998. Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, Dodge Fund & Rogers Fund 1999. A#1998.69; 1999.99 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/469960 422 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 420 421 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 90 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A tapestry silk fragment ca.7thC a.d. from Syria(?) with a medallion of 2 horseman as archers with a thin flowing mantle are embellished with 10 red hearts across their clothing and 2 white hearts on their green saddle. There may be additional meaning of the ‘Turkish’ knotted tails of the horses.423 This fragment comes from the treasury of the Basilica of Saint Servatius, Maastricht.424 Guctur, Bilgi 2016. Knotted tails meaning is “Ready to be killed and kill, for country, nation, family, for the sake of honor and war” https://tarihvearkeoloji.blogspot.com/2016/11/from-pazyryk-to-gordion-turks.html 424 Medallion with 2 horsemen 7thC http://artquill.blogspot.com/2014/01/timelines-of-fabrics-dyes-andother.html OR Kruse, Marion Studies in Late Antiquity Vol1 Number 4 2017 http://www.medievalists.net/2017/11/ 423 91 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Hearts in Jewelry 425 to a center A Crimean bracelet found @ Kerch has 7 garnet hearts pointing th crystal rock stone. A researcher believes this jewelry circa late 4 or early 5th century a.d. originates from the Bosporus426 Kingdom. Bosphorus (4th-2ndC B.C) was a mixed population Romans (63b.c-), Ostrogoths (~350-375 CE), Byzantines (~400-565c.e.), with Greek language and civilization, “however between 250 – 650 c.e, several nomadic groups427 – Goths, Huns (375-550 C.E), Kutrigurs, Utrigers, Avars (550-565 C.E), Bulgars (575650 C.E) and Alans/Alani(?) came and went across the Ukraine territory” (Magocsi 2010, 35). Scottish craftsmen made a special silver brooch (Fig. 49) of a Double Heart probably prior to known jewelry work of the 1750’s. On the island of Funen, at Aunslev, Denmark a detectorist discovered a Gold crucifix pendant which Archeologists Malene R Beck said to be dated428 from 900-950 a.d.. The Birka crucifix shows Christ with a heart shaped face double lined with small gold filigree pellets. This is almost identical to the Silver original Birka cross Hjalmar Stolpe discovered in 1879 in Birka, Uppland, close to Stockholm in Sweden.429 The two Viking age Jelling stones erected in Jutland in 965 a.d. were thought to be the “oldest known representation of Jesus on a cross in Denmark” (Worley 2016)430. Fig. 74- Viking Birka cross 900-950 a.d. Author Illustr'd from Archaeological news sites.431 7 hearts bracelet bezel Crimea 4-5thC Unknown find or original reference possible once held @ hermitagemuseum.org/ http://artthis.org/history/d_500BC-500AD/1st-page_1.htm 426 Researcher ties ring to Bosphorus Kingdom http://artthis.org/history/d_500BC-500AD/1st-page_1.htm 427 Magocsi, Paul Robert 2010. A History of Ukraine: The land and its Peoples, 2nd Ed.pp29,31,34-35 428 Metal detectorists find crucifix, may change historical record of Christianity (in Denmark). https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/amateur-metal-detector-finds-crucifix-which-maychange-historical-record-a6936301.html 429 Archaeologists Dr. Martin Rundkvist 2016 blog describes Viking crucifix & related discoveries https://aardvarchaeology.wordpress.com/2016/03/12/viking-crucifix/ 430 Ibid, Will Worley 2016 interview of Malene Refshauge Beck, curator & archeeologist of Østfyns Museum independent.co.uk 431 Extraordinary find: Denmarks oldest crucifix 2016. http://en.vikingemuseetladby.dk/about-themuseum/news/extraordinary-find-denmarks-oldest-crucifix/ 425 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 92 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Hearts in Clothing/Tapestry/Silks Some hearts are geometric in the same style of heart ‘X’ shaped cross including the center pellet found in the border @ St. Vitale. The only difference is the coloration of the hearts are white with black border in St. Vitale, whereas this image of the hearts are black on a beige wool background and encompassed in a square or diamond boxed in by black >Aegean < or ‘Aw’ ligatures that makes a large ‘†’ hidden in the beige negative space (Fig. 41). Both date from the 6th century. Here an Egyptian ‘Coptic’ wool/linen tapestry weave hanging from 300-400’s (possibly 500’s). This fragment has a series of Purple or Rosette colored hearts combined together in a cross motif with a bird/chicken between them. The Hearts have a green ‘X’ separating the petals with a small green dot dropped on the outside edge as if it were a spade with fulcrum. These hearts replicate the Lambda Λ over O(ω)mega in 2 colors. Fig. 75- Hanging Cover Coptic 300-400's.432 Cropped Photo credit Gift of Mrs. Jesse H. Metcalf RISD museum CC0 1.0.433 Hanging Cover Coptic O#39.126 https://risdmuseum.org/art-design/collection/hanging-cover39126#content__section--description--846016 433 Public Domain CCO 1.0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 432 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 93 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY An Egyptian (Coptic) early Christian or early Islamic 6th-8thC a.d. linen tapestry is presented with “disconnected heart-shaped leaves”434 woven and colored in red and green wool with a Byzantine influence. This fragment has at least 15 clearly visible Hearts. No ligature found in this nicely presented hearts around this Christian scenery. Fig. 76- Segmentum of Achmim tapestry ‘Virgin and Child’ with Angel abt 7thC Egypt. Image credit Alexander Speltz 1915.435 A textile roundel (made in Egypt or Syria?) of caped Amazon archers on horseback with a green background aiming at lions beneath their horses has over a hundred small green hearts on the internal border of the scene dating from the 7th-9th century. On the wider border is a larger two-toned (beige & green) heart motif in separated by a 3-leaf floral pattern. Two smaller roundels on the north and south points blended into the borders have another set of 2-toned hearts with a very small ‘†’ cross also surrounded by miniture hearts going in a westerly and easterly direction. The very outside of the 434 Egyptian Tapestry Aw heart motif 6-8thC A#10.135 https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/tapestry68616 435 Speltz, Alexander 1915. The Coloured Ornament of All Historical Styles with Coloured Plates from Own Paintings in Water Colours vol1-3, p57. : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 94 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY roundel has a small border of wave or key (Greek) motif similar to the circle & dot (eyes) from (Fig. 206). Notice the bow is an inverted heart shape! A Cupid/Eros inference? Fig. 77- Roundel of Amazons, Hearts & Crosses.436 Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.437 An 8th century roundel tapestry (Egyptian, Akhmim(?)) is believed to have the image of Emperor Heraclius crowned, purple cape flowing (over the captives of war), riding a horse with an ‘H’ shaped fleur-de-lis spear and orb. Even more interesting is a blue ‘X’ has 4 white diamonds inserted into the corners behind him. The captive scene is echoed back to the Roman Republic coins of Julius Caesar. Two rings that separate a red flame coming out of the center ‘w’ shaped vignette around his image have very small red, white and blue hearts in every direction, many of which are squeezed Roundel of Amazons and crosses. 7th-9thC Egyptian or Syrian? https://metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/466156 437 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 436 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 95 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY together as if a mosaic pavement. In 2012 this textile was being held @ MMoA item 477556438, now being held at Victoria & Albert museum in London as #T.794-1919.439 The fragment silk shroud of Charlemagne in which he was said to have been buried in d.814 has one large roundel with an image of him being pulled by four horses. The border of this larger roundel had 12 flowers with a large heart coming from the ‘V’ shaped center and the internal ‘V’ is a smaller heart in purple outlined with gold between a wide ‘ω’ omega (?) highlighting the smaller heart. The four smaller roundels ‘dodecagon’ on the four cardinal points have the same small heart within a larger heart flower bud just outside an octagonal boxed in lambda ‘Λ’ shaped heart cross. Fig. 78- Fragment Shroud of Charlemagne ~814.440 Photo credit 1.0 permission by NYPL 1914-15.441 A bow hunter Coptic Clavus & Tunic442 textile dating from the 6-7thC has the double heart and wing images albeit a small beige heart outlined in green with a white ω omega form, behind it followed by a rosepink butt of the heart and includes the wing shape buds with pink tips, a green collar and beige head. Knowing this hunter’s tunic motif was produced in Tapestry roundel of Byzantine Emperor https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/477556 Panel from Tunic 700-800 a.d http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O93452/panel-from-a-unknown/ 440 Art and Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1914 - 1915). Byzantine Textiles. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-04bb-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 441 NYPL rights statement http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/ 442 Clavus Tunic 6-7thC Coptic O#64.56.3 https://www.vmfa.museum/piction/6027262-15407785/ 438 439 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 96 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Egypt, then Charlemagnes tunic may have had the same family or region of artisans produce his shroud. The Vatican Museum has a textile of the “Annunciation” ca.8-9thC with the Virgin Mary receiving a message from the Angel Gabriel and the outer roundel border has a similar 3 toned colored heart shape including the wing shaped leaves placement as Charlemagne’s tunic.443 During the same century another tapestry called ‘King Bahrām Gūr Hunt Scene’444 also has the same identical heart within a heart border on rondel, however in the cardinal positions is a gold cross with purple hearts wedged into the four arms. The Blue-Green Hunt scene was conserved at the Church of Saint-Calais, Sarthe region of France. Two bowmen hunters have purple mantles flowing in the wind. The heart also appears with a scrolled look in vignettes of illuminations. It appears around the 7th century. Even though this Tapestry is located in Egypt it’s given a Byzantine flavor. “Four designs which were to become so popular in the tenth-century Byzantine stuffs, as they were also on the textiles used in Western Europe after the Crusades, and which we now naturally associate with playing cards: that is the lozenge(diamond), the heart(hearts), the trefoil(clubs), and the leaf(spades)” (Lowrie 1901, 373-4). The scrolled heart is heart shaped with lines scrolled at the intersection top of the heart. Doaks445 has an early Byzantine Gold marriage belt with 2 scrolled hearts center linking this belt which dates to late 6th -early 7thC. Another scrolled heart (purple & pink) example is in the Gregorie de Nazianze Homilies ca.879-883 on folio 285r uses as a border in the illumination. The Heart is used about ~725 times in the old testament. Genesis mentioned 7 times. Exodus 25x. Leviticus 4x. Numbers once. Deuteronomy 30x. The highest number is 127x in Psalms. The word Heart is used about ~149 times in the New Testament, with the most in the book of Acts 18x, then Matthew in New Testament. The word shield is only listed twice in the New Testament. Another heart vignettes examples are in the Bible of Leo Sakellarios (Vat Reg Grk MS 1) folios 3x on 46v, 116r, 281r, 383r, and 450r which dates to mid 10thC. The hearts appear on the arms of the cross not as easily distinguished (since a few appear triangular shaped) but are 8 red hearts on folio 2r. In the Treasury Cathedral of Sens has a silk fabric square of the Saint Victor with Daniel holding off two lions made in the tenth century (Schlumberger 1896, 495). In the fleurette disc surrounding Daniel there is a circle of 4 hearts with the pointed end to each other combined to make a cross. See Annunciation Silk Textile image from 2012 exhibition of Vatican Museum textile https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2012/byzantium-and-islam/blog/lookingcloser/posts/annunciation-silk 444 King Bahram Gur Hunt scene 9thC Constantinople https://www.qantaramed.org/admin/pics_zoom/1494001%20Suaire%20(site).jpg 445 Doaks Byzantine Marriage Belt showing two scrolled hearts http://museum.doaks.org/Obj27445?sid=4845 443 97 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Hearts in Mosaics Actual hearts in mosaics would most likely appear in the Christian era. A few early examples in mosaics are (Fig. 97) which shows a heart like image in the negative space of a 3-tiered Pelta shield, (Fig. 73) appears in the shape of diamonds. Some hearts will actually appear as a flower bud rather than an easily recognizable heart image similar to this tapestry rosette (Fig. 194). The Bathhouse mosaic found at Masada in southern Israel south of the sea of Galilee. This mosaic pavement (Fig. 79) dates to the “Herodian period, namely the later 1st century BCE – 1st centry CE (Hachlili 2009, 13). Many of these early mosaics are supposed to be ‘aniconic’ meaning there should be no figurative designs to the art, “possibly due to the prohibition of the second of the Ten commandments” and the confirmation of this “during the Second Temple period representations of animated beings were avoided”446. If you review this image like the Magdala mosaic (Fig. 15) you may possibly find additional hidden Hellenistic Greco-Hebrew symbology of ‘8’447 or ‘12’. Is this an early hidden Ichthus / ἰχθύς ‘fish’ wheel? Fig. 79- Bathhouse mosaic Masada. Cropped Photo credit Dennis Jarvis448 2016 CC BY 2.0.449 Hachlili, Rachel. 1988 Ancient Jewish Art and Archaelogy in the Land of Israel. Themes, Issues, and Trends. Aniconic style present, p17. 447 McGough, Richard Amiel 2019. Symbolic meaning of the number Eight. https://www.biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Chet_Eight.php 448 Jarvis, Dennis 2016 photo of Masada bath mosaic floor https://www.flickr.com/photos/archer10/34831930946/ 449 Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ 446 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 98 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY One confirmed early images of hearts outside of the holy land occurs in Roman Britain ca.200 a.d. which was a mosaic covered hypocaust450 (or underfloor heating system). This was found in the 1930’s near St. Albans “near the route of Watling Street, the major Roman road that ran past Verulamium”451. One heart mosaic has tear shaped cross and a small roundel centered while the heart is pointed in the corners of the tear cross. The 2nd one below it, has hearts in the shape of a cross with the tear shapes tucked between the hearts as if this image is now a flower mosaic. Both heart motifs have the pointed portion colored “marroon brownish” in the shape of a lambda A/Λ, while the mid section is rosy pink creme ‘I’ as if separating the Alpha from the “crème” inner color of the outlined black Omega ‘ω’. Did you notice the filled triangles pointing outward from outside the roundel similar to the placement on the Magdala mosaic (Fig. 15)? St. Albans is located NNE of London approximitly 30 miles away. Fig. 80- Roman Mosaic near St. Albans 200 a.d. Photo credit James Clark 2013.452 Author illustrated monogram CC BY 2.0.453 St. Albans museum Hypocaust explained https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/visit/hypocaust Ross, David 2019 Verulamium Hypocaust and Mosaic https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/herts/roman/verulamium-hypocaust.htm 452 Clark, James 2013 photo of Roman Mosaic floor Verulamium Park, St. Albans England https://www.flickr.com/photos/cathedralcityguide/8449170446 453 Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 450 451 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols 99 Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY One possible early divided heart or fig leaf cross mosaic found on the River Tiber, Rome, Italy dating from the 1st – 4thc. This underground church also includes a burial, giving the hint that the site maybe one of the 1st Roman churches. “The colored marble was sourced from north Africa used in the building floor mosaics and walls” (Soprintendenza Speciale Roma 2018). The center roundel/circle is replaced with purple every other cross motif with the more commonly used dark tourquoise. Fig. 81- River Tiber, Rome, Italy church mosaic 1st-4thC. Author Illustr’d from Local.it 2018.454 An Egyptian (Coptic) early Byzantine 6th-7thC a.d. linen tapestry depicts a Jeweled cross with four birds in each quarter/corner of the cross, but the most interesting item is the 8 crosses on the cardinal corners made in style of the Ravenna (Basilica San Vitale, Italy) ‘chevron’ cross border considered to be a ‘Λ’ Lambda design for Alpha ‘A’. This item A#11.1417 is not on view @ MFA455. If you approach these four chevroned crosses from a distance it actually apears as small hearts. Maybe this was what was intended effect due to many of the tiles being square cut? Fig. 82- San Vitale border heart cross image.456 Gift of Mrs. Efrem Kurtz. Cropped photo credit MoFAH via PD.457 The alcove or wave style where the chevron/heart crosses reside dates back to the Lydian culture 6th century b.c. terracotta tiles.458 The rounded wave pattern is also seen on Petra, Olympus pottery dated from 10th-9thC b.c.459 Lydia was the area of the mainland above the island of Rhodes east of the Aegean sea (Northern Mediterranean) and south of the Black sea. Hearts also decorate the bibles front cover Local.IT 2018 Archaelogical engima’ accidentally uncovered in Rome during routine works https://www.thelocal.it/20180717/archaeological-enigma-rome-tiber-remains-church-villa 455 Tapestry w/Jeweled cross nicely compared to same time of San Vitale heart shaped cross border https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/tapestry-depicting-a-jeweled-cross-68511 456 Mosaic in Basilica di S.Vitale 1850-1859 Albumen silver print A#2000.266.50 https://www.mfah.org/art/detail/71807 457 MoFAH https://www.mfah.org/terms/ public domain 458 Terracotta architectural tile Lydian 6thC b.c. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/26.164.1/ 459 Grammenos, D.V. 2004. Painted amphora, Treis Elies, Petra, Olympus 10-9thC b.c http://www.latsisfoundation.org/eng/electronic-library/the-museum-cycle/the-archaeological-museum-of-thessaloniki 454 100 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY of many fresco images. Here are a few that can be found: Maestranze ravennati di S. Apollinare in Class circa 535-538 the bible with four green colored hearts surrounds a rosette of white beads with a red circle. In the same church on their bibles, St. Ursicinus has blue hearts, St. Ecclesisus has red hearts, St. Severus has blue hearts, and St. Ursus has red hearts all forming a cross pattern from the corners of the book. An unusual arrangement of the hearts in a cross form may have been cleverly hidden due to the change of hearts in the 4th to 6th centuries in Soli (Ancient city Lefke), Cyprus. One 1st heart on a larger flower with a long petal almost separated from the center including the petals almost dichotomized on the back of the Swan, while the 2nd heart is in front, smaller shallow petals closely connected to the presumed flower cross imagery. Notice the four collapsed O(ω)mega’s as a flower blossom? The constellation of Cygnus or the Swan constellation is also known as the Northern cross.460 The Greek myths also has a story that Cygnus is the Greek hero Orpheus who was murdered by Thracian Maenads for not honoring Dionysus. Orpheus was transformed into a swan and placed next to his lyre (Lyra constellation) in the sky.461 There is more myth stories about the Spartan Queen Leda having two sets of twins after being seduced by Zeus disguised as a swan. Notice 2 sets of crosses (twin sets?) around the swan? Is this a blending of old school myths with the new theology? Fig. 83- Swan Mosaic Soli/Soloi, Northern Cyprus.462 Cropped photo credit George Groutas 2007 CC BY 2.0.463 Cygnus Constellation 2019 https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/cygnus-constellation/ Ibid, Myths of Cygnus Constellation Guide 2019 462 Ancient Soloi by George Groutas 2007 https://www.flickr.com/photos/jorge-11/2773779860/ 463 George Groutas 2007 Atribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 460 461 101 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Another 6thC floor mosaic with a Heart cross is found in narthex and nave at ‘Aya Trias Basilica’, Sipahi, North Cyprus (Turkish Republic). This square of hearts is inside a 4-sided star(?) which is inside to more squares. The border of this mosac also has a vignete of heart leaf with various colors. This is also a location where sandals are at the edge of a mosaic (beside a branch of 3 pomegranates), possibly referencing Moses taking off his sandals to meet God in the desert. The Basilica was said to be destroyed in the 7th century via Arab raids464. Fig. 84- Heart cross mosaic @ Agias Trias, Cyprus 6thC. Author Illustr'd from Flickr photo 2004.465 Not exactly a mosaic, but a Collonnette Column from a pier said to be from Bawit, Egypt (Coptic) in the Byzantine period. It has 2 sets of Hearts flowers attached to a vine scroll with a cluster of grapes. A heart ‘Ivy’ vine twists around the pier, produced some time in the late 6th -7th century. Fig. 85- Colonnette Limestone Relief.466 Photo credit Harvard Art Museum/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Hagop Kevorkian Foundation 1975 ©. North Yorkshire photo & history of Aya Trias 2004 https://www.flickr.com/photos/derbyshire_runner/44136126710/ 465 Ibid,. Morth Yorkshire Deryshire runner photo Oct, 25, 2004 466 Engaged Colonnette O#1975.41.55 late 6-7thC https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/288709 464 102 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Hearts in Administration Hearts as an Admininstrative signage, shield, or badge is symbolic in the 3rd century Rome and other areas with a regional connection. A Sasanian (Iran) silk twill textile467 from the Aachen Cathedral treasury which dates to 3rd-4th century describes in imagery 2 peacocks (with tear shaped wings) in front of a round sun, near a column/pile of 9 hearts and 3 small stars in the distance. This silk appears to date this time period of Sassanid dynasty king Shapur I (240-272 a.d.) which has 9 regional governors in Persia.468 Also, above the peacocks is a Fleur-de-lis with small right side up white heart with a medium background of green. In the Qasr-I Abu Nasr, Iran Sasanian period a bronze fork/tool made 6-7thC has an IH between the handle and the two long prongs (used to handle meat?). This item 323049 can be viewed at MMoA A#34.107.78. In the Notitia Dignitatum (lat. “List of Offices”) is generally understood this document was created in the early 5th century to record governmental positions between both halves of the Roman Empire. The Heart and Sun is used in shields for military officials called comites domesticorum. Comes domestikos (δομέστικος) refers to Domestici companion/ member/Protectores of civil, ecclesiastical or military commander/guard organizations of the empire.469 These positions commanded the corps of officer cadets, and their rank illustres were responsible to the emperor and to no other official.470 The top row of shields is for Comes Domesticorvm Equitvm & Pedites/Peditvm471 in the Western Empire with beige hearts on a blue background472 and the bottom row Comes Domesticorvm Equitvm & Pedites/Peditvm in the Eastern Empire(Byzantium) beige CAIS Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies http://www.caissoas.com/CAIS/virtual_museum/sasanian/Artifacts/textile.htm 468 per research of Hubert de Vries 2015 http://www.hubert-herald.nl/Heart.htm 469 Comes Domesticorum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocritus_(comes_domesticorum) 470 Berger, Pamela 1981 The Notitia Dignitatum. Diss. 1974. Revised ed. 1981. P. 76 471 BNF Ms 9661 refers to as Peditvm. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b6000542r/f172.item.r=notitia%20dignitatum Including Vat Barb lat ms 157 https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Barb.lat.157 472 Bodleian Library ms Canon 378 f91v https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/inquire/p/3bbba2c6-457d-4c859bb2-0fb7e3b85d31 467 103 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY hearts on a brown or purple background473 - “Imperial Image’s supported by Angels added in chief (Hubert de Vries 2015)”. Fig. 86- Roman high military official shields. Domestici Equities (left) & Domestici Pedites (right) ca. 400a.d. Illustr’d from B&W image credit Otto Seeck 1876.474 However, this administrative technique using an inverted heart motif may have started much earlier during the reign (249-251 a.d.) of the warrior Emperor Decius as was engraved his name, two sons’ names Herrennius Etrusculus and Hostilian into the lead weight sign(?), hence the nail/hang hole. The back of the weight also includes the governor Gaius Sabucius Secundus Paulus, the local officer Aelius Asklepiodotes title as ‘homonyarkhes’ the acting mediator of this post was to handle the compliance agreement ‘homonoia’ meaning ‘of the same mind’ or ‘Union of the Hearts’475 as some Ibid, Bodleian ms378 brown bckgrnd f101r purple bckgrnd 102v Seeck, Otto 1876. Notitia Dignitatum, or Register of Dignitaries. 475 Swain, Joseph Ward, 1962. The Ancient World: The world empires: Alexander and the Romans after 334 B.C pg37. or Knoche, Grace F. October 1974, "Of One Mind, of One Heart". Sunrise Magazine. https://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/sunrise/24-74-5/br-gfk2.htm 473 474 104 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY translate the term. The mediator was responsible for keeping harmony (signed compliance agreement) between cities commerce by supervising the market place including religious and military reasons.476 Five years later (255-256 a.d) Emperor Valerian had a 7(?) sided (Heptagon) plaque477 for the ‘agoranomos’ who was rd responsible for the market place. In this same 3 C Roman period ‘Omonoia’ was shown with a personified ‘Hand shake’ in marriage.478 The word ‘OMONOIA’ was already being dot-punch engraved on gold wedding bands during the 4-5th century.479 By the 6th-7th century Byzantines uses the phrase ‘OMONOIA’ on more ornate wedding rings.480 This heart shape begins to appear in the mosaics in Byzantine churches and continues more frequently in the 11th century. Hubert de Vries481 shows us this heart motif continued into the 16th century. Another later instance ca 1011/30 at Hosios Loukas (St. Loukas of Stiris) church the fresco of Constantine is wearing a male cross shaped (head to knees & across the waist) Thorakion and the belt shows 4 hearts split red and gold in the corners of the belt. The heart continues to be used in Byzantium where Emperor Nikephorus Botaniates (r. 1078-81) is crowned in Thorakian of upside-down hearts in the illumination (Coislin ms 79) Homilies of St. Chrysostom ca.1078-1081. On Folio 2v his Purple robe is tightly covered in a 4-leaf clover/heart pattern that is a cross which combines an 8-leaf circular flower shape separated by a small line of gold. Inscribed Weight 249-250a.d https://en.peramuzesi.org.tr/Artwork/Weight/105/16 7-sided plaque weight for ‘agoranomos’ title for the market place Oct 23, 255 – Oct 22, 256 a.d. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/weight/CAHuMdQi_OIQxQ 478 Ring with cameo of clasped hands with a women wearing a bracelet A#63.1555 https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/ring-with-cameo-of-clasped-hands-259587 479 Byzantine Gold Marriage Band 4-5thC engraved OMONOIA https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5547054 480 Gold Marriage Ring inscribed ‘OMONOIA’ with a male and female figure in between an 8-pointed IotaChi cross above their heads. A#L.2015.72.5 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/661703 481 Vries, Hubert de 2015. Bestiarium Symbols http://www.hubert-herald.nl/Heart.htm 476 477 105 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Hearts in Burials Heart in burials, need I explain more? But if I do, many hearts in are in shaped of flower crosses , rosette’s and some are heart-shaped grape bunches or ivy leaf shapes hooked to a vine or tree of life. The Rinado sarcophagus482 in the Ravenna cathedral/basilica of the early 5thCE has heart shaped cross/rosettes attached to the tree of life paired by 2 peacocks surrounding a Chi-Rho monogram with the Alpha & O(ω)mega hanging by an ‘S’ shaped hook. On the outside of a marble sarcophagus483 of Drausin, Soissons (Aisne) dating from the 7thC has a Chi-Rho symbol with inverted IΛM or Λω too. In a circular disc & from the outside has a large set of grape vines covering the stone artifact. The grapes are easily visible and many do have a heart shape with the vine helping to curve the inner edge center of the heart shaped grape bunch. The First Emperor Constantine the Great was supposedly being held in the sarcophagus.484 Going from left to right (hand of God direction) the Alpha & Omega form the monogram letters of IΛM – see illustration below. Fig. 87- Fragment of Marble Sarcophagus, 8thC(?).485 Cropped Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.486 Right, Author illustrat’n of translation. Fox, Allison L.B. 2013. Burial and Resurrection” The Sculpted Sarcophagi of Ravenna and Visions of Perpetuity in an age of Flux. p294 483 Musée du Louvre: marble Sarcophagus of Drausin, Soissons (Aisne) VI century http://www.beyond-thepale.org.uk/SantAntounin3.htm 484 Coptic sarcophagus with Heart shaped Grape bunch. https://www.heritageimages.com/preview/2668483 485 Fragment of marble sarcophagus 8tthC(?) Frankish https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/466603 486 Fragment of marble sarcophagus 8tthC(?) Frankish https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/466603 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication from Metmuseum.org 482 106 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Theodorus, Archbishop of Ravenna who died in 688, his sarcophagus in Sant’Apollinare in Classe, Italy487 just outside the side roundel of ‘XP + Aω’, has two heart crosses which are so tightly carved it appears as a four-leaf clover with a pelleted center. On an 8thC Frankish sarcophagus fragment ‘above’, shows a Chi-Rho cross ithin a circle and the Lambda Λ for Alpha ‘A’ & ‘ω’ omega inverted with heart shaped leaves vignettes surrounding the symbol. In this item it appears the creators are giving a direct hint, that by putting an inverted ‘w’ omega atop the Lambda ‘A’ would equal the heart shape leaves beside segmentum of the Chi-Rho. An interesting note, the leaves do have a center vein called a midrib488, just like the divided-heart motif that occurs more prominently in the 11th century. On a mostly late antique stonework in the Basillica of San Vitale, Ravenna a sarcophagus has a roundel of six Scrolled Hearts pointing to the six corners of the Iota(I) Chi(X) monogram IX, but lacks of Rho(P) unless you consider the top scrolled heart as a ‘P’(?). The roundel is being held up by a large ‘X’ with a punch v-shaped ‘I’(?) above and in the bottom of the Chi ‘X’ has a Pheon/AI inserted as if the owner of the burial tomb was in the 9th or 10th roman legion(?). An almost identical roundel & non-scrolled hearts monogram like this figure was catalogued489 and dating from the 4th – 5th century CE. These same 6 hearts christogram can be found in the church of Saints Sergius & Bacchus.490 Fig. 88 – ‘IX’ & Scrolled Heart monogram from Sarcophagus. Author illustr’d from Richard\Tortipede 2009.491 While Spades are not as popular, they do have a few carved motifs in burials where four Spades with fulcrum are pointing in the 4 corners of a cross inside of a roundel Plaque492 dating from the 5thC CE(?). Archbisop Theodorus Sant Apollinare in Classe. http://www.wondersofsicily.com/off-topic-ravenna.htm Manisha, M. Definition Of a leaf. Midrib http://www.biologydiscussion.com/leaf/leaf-definitioncharacteristics-and-functions-with-diagram/70306 489 Fox, Allison L.B. 2013. Burial and Resurrection” The Sculpted Sarcophagi of Ravenna and Visions of Perpetuity in an age of Flux. p332. Mendel cat. 1174 Archaeological Museum Instanbul Sarcophagus n.823. 490 Christogram in roundel of hearts between Capitals in church of Sergius & Bacchus https://www.flickr.com/photos/byzants/32814095250/ 491 Snowflake heart penned from Richard 2009. Stonework from San Vitale, Ravenna https://www.flickr.com/photos/tortipede/3676842124/ 492 Fox, Allison L.B. 2013. Burial and Resurrection” The Sculpted Sarcophagi of Ravenna & Visions of Perpetuity in an age of Flux. p334. Firatlu, Nezih. 1990 pl.100 Plaque n.4135 Archaological Museum Istanbul. 487 488 107 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Hearts on Coins 493 that is The Silphium plant incidentally had a heart shaped pod or seed presented in our modern conceptual standard Heart imagery on the obverse or reverse of Tetradrachm coins beginning around 570 b.c. The plant found on Mediterranean coast town of Cyrene (Kyrene) Libya, North Africa was used for healing, preventing contraception, and other medicines with aphrodisiac properties.494 The Euboic-Attic tetradrachm coin (Fig. 6)obverse (left) shows a ‘stalk of silphium w/2 leaves on each side”, and the reverse (right) a “grain of silphium between two dolphins”.495 Fig. 89- Euboic-Attic tetradrachm coin. Illustr'n credit plate XXIV, Bement 1921.496 About 45 years before Christ was born, Gaius Julius Caesar (b. July 100 – March 15, 44 b.c) had a coin produced while he was dictator of the Roman Republic (r. Oct 49 – 44 b.c.). On the coin obverse shows a bust of Venus with a rough almost unnoticeable winged Cupid on shoulder. A right side up heart has been countermarked (for reasons unknown) in her cheek sometime after the coin was produced in Spain.497 Coenwulf (r.796-821) an Anglo-Saxon Mercian king also produced an ‘ω’ omega at the end of each beam of a cross in two slightly different forms of coins. 1st is the moline cross (or anchor cross). Notice the alpha ‘A’ directly across from the ‘ω’ omega on this coin? He also produced another coin with the ‘A’ as the cross ends pointing toward the center. 2nd short cross moline over short cross in saltire (X= St. Andrews cross)498, whereby the ‘ω’ actually curls back to the corner of the cross making 4 divided hearts surrounding a cross499. A 3rd coin not shown is an ‘A’ over top of ‘ω’ omega where the ‘v’ from the Alpha holds the center of the double ‘uu’. Successors to Coenwulf do continue this symbology and sometimes slightly different positioning, size and count in the design, but still obvious to the viewer. Author illustrated Silphium coins found on the internet Markowitz, Mike 2015. Kyrene Greek city of Libya https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/coinage-kyrenegreek-city-libya/ 495 Bement, C.S. 1921. Description Catalogue of Greek Coins p97. 496 Ibid,. Bement Plate XXIV coin342. 497 See BritishMuseum #2002,0102.4635 Object ID 3080661 498 Saltire, an X for St. Andrews Cross https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltire 499 Conewulf (King of Mercia) coin short cross moline over short cross in saltire https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=319&category=4972&lot=260919 493 494 108 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Hearts on Christian Artifacts The Treasure of Gourdon (Saône-et-Loire), France was a hoard of gold objects that date to the 5th or early 6th century.500 Multiple items including Gold coins from Leo I (r.457-474) to Justin I (R.518-527) and two highly precious Christian made artifacts were buried; one being a Gold rectangular pateen (plate) with a cross embedded and 4 hearts (2 are turquoise) pointing to the cross. The corner has a fleur-de-lis shaped cross pointing outwards with a continuing border of diamond lozenges surrounded by another border of small circles on both sides. The Chalice also gold has the same heart motif albeit upright with green turquoise heart vignette by a gold wire that also is heart to attached to a 3 leafed lily (stone gone), then a garnet inverted consecutively go around the cup. In between the hearts and lily motif is a Dble ‘ƧS’ pattern made of the same gold filigree like wire. A Byzantine alabaster Panel (ca.501-700 a.d.) with 2 peacocks501 are standing on 2 limbs that have 3 large leaves. The Peacocks are supporting the cross atop beam with their beaks, looking eye to eye. The negative space between the peacocks & the cross appear as an almost perfectly shaped Std heart. The Staff of St. Peter found in the Cologne, Germany treasure has a few items of interest which includes ~10 Gold & Black diamonds, 8-10 small tears on end, a double row of 6 black hearts (12 total?) with each consecutive heart wedged between the next. Parts of the frame are dated from the 8th century502. Translat’d from German: “According to legend, Eucharius, Maternus and Valerius were sent by Pope Peter as missionaries to the northern side of the Alps. Maternus died and was revived with the Episcopal by Eucharius sent by Peter. Maternus became the first bishop of Cologne and Eucharius first bishop of Trier, where he also took the episcopal staff. The legend was written in 960 in Trier & thus underscored the ownership claim and the supremacy of Trier in Germania and Gaul (TDW 2012)”.503 While H. de Vries comments or referenced that “it is doubted that the staff from Cologne has belonged to him” [Otto I], however in my opinion it may have been more for a Bishop or other ecclesiastical clergy in high position during Otto’s reign. Fig. 90- Staff of St. Peter 8th & 9thC. Illustrat’d from Hubert de Vries photo ©.504 Treasure of Gourdon https://archaeology-travel.com/france/cabinet-des-medailles/ Panel w/two peacocks A#2008.382 https://www.mfah.org/art/detail/92418 502 Otto I by Hubert de Vries. Best and only image of St. Peters staff http://www.hubertherald.nl/ImpRomOtt1.htm 503 Petrus Stab Reliquiar via TDW 2012 http://www.traumpfade-der-welt.de/tdw_lt.php?reise_id=5075 504 Staff of St. Peter may have been used in the rein of Otto I. http://www.hubert-herald.nl/ImpRomOtt1.htm 500 501 109 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A cylindrical Pyxis made ca.10thC of ivory has about 12 “heart-shaped compartments”505 with a bird of prey clutching branches in between each division of the heart which is created by a long-intertwined vignette around the relic. This vessel is believed to have been for the personal use of the Umayyad nobility of western Islam and period (756-1031)506 in Medieval Spain. Fig. 91- Cylindrical Box (Pyxis).507 Theodore M. Davis collection 1915. Cropped photo TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.508 Cylindrical Box (Pyxis) 10thC Spain A#30.95.175 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/448443 506 Andalusian Umayyads 756-1031 growth & perfection of Arabic civilization in Spain https://www.britannica.com/place/Spain/Muslim-Spain#ref587346 507 Cylindrical Box (Pyxis) 10thC Spain A#30.95.175 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/448443 508 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 505 110 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Amazon Pelta Shield/ pre-Scrolled Hearts The Pelta shield of Roman art is associated with the / Inverted heart & Std Heart after 3rdC a.d. The male Pelta shield design in ancient times Etruscan-Greek was rounded like a crescent moon509, while the Amazons (Fig. 92) had an additional 3rd center tier510. The Pelta Shield mosaics would have scrolled tiers and occasionaly stringy octopus’ legs as if associatied to water &/or ocean deities. An urn from the 3rdC b.c has a woman holding a divided spade like fan while the bottom of the urn has caped Amazons (3 tiered shield Fig. 146) fighting a battle with the Greeks. Fig. 92- Fragment of terracotta volute-krater ca.330-310b.c.511 Rogers Fund 1919. Cropped Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.512 In Helladic, Mycenaean culture (ca.1370-1200 b.c.) the pelta image was attached internally to the heart.513 It is basically the Alpha or Lambda ‘Λ’ rounded on top with the ‘ω’ omega curled like a paper scroll either with an overall lean or plump shaped heart found in mosaics, jewelry, manuscripts, etc. Over time the Pelta draws up into the shape Crescent moon shield of male warriors on Lekythos pottery 500-480b.c. I#H560 http://www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk/en/collections/work/H560 510 Museum examples of 3rd tier Pelta of Amazons. MFA.org A#1991.242 ca340-330b.c. MFA.org A#89.260 ca320-310b.c. BrklnM Hydria A#62.147.4 2nd half 4thC bce. 511 Fragment of terracotta volute-krater ca.330-310b.c. A#19.192.81.1,7,42,46,55 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/250814 512 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 513 Helladic, Mycenaean Glass Ornamental Heart leafs with Pelta shield joined to the center ca.1370-1200 b.c. A#26.31.417 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/252340 509 111 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY of a heart. A blog called ‘the ancienthome’514 has this mosaic design listed as a ‘palmette’, however the flower designs I’ve noticed on the ‘palmette’ are usually much larger with scrolled parts under or around and much less noticeable. The earliest similar images of the so-called scrolled heart appear to have three small vines hanging from it; one in the center and one on each side. Basically, looking like a jelly-fish type of image. The word jelly-fish in Greek is translated as médousa (Μέδουσα/μέδουσα). Yes, the Greek mythology for the “guardian or protectress” a gorgon female monster that was able to use her head as a weapon515. There are also some Egyptian feathered ‘semicircle’ fans called ‘shuwt’516 that have this inverted double ‘uu’ shape under the ‘Golden fan’ & ‘Ebony fan’ found with Tutankhamun ca.1323 b.c. They are thought to restore the ‘breath of life’ to the deceased and for the living, “the flabellum was used as a signifier of a ‘divine presence’ (Veldmeijer & Ikram 2013, 50). These fans include 2 fangs are attached to the center shaft below the artefact giving it the 3 fangs similar to the scrolled heart. The Roman mosaic pavement 1st-2ndC of Bachus (god of Wine, etc..) found at Leadenhall Street where is straddles a tiger, referring to the myth he visited India. Unlike the other pelta images with a very rigid shield shape, this mosaic arms begin to curl and add long octopus length legs on the outer arms. The border of mosaic has 1 SP pointing outwards in the 4 corners, with 2 SP’s straddling a long diamond shaped image that repeats 8 times – with a total of 16 SP’s + the 4 in the corners to a total of 20. An additional two SP’s are just outside the roundel of Bachus with a vignette running through the legs.517 Aka ‘palmette’(?) https://theancienthome.com/blogs/blog-and-news/roman-mosaic-patterns Greek Medusa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Greek_mythology/Featured_creature 516 Fans of Tutankhamun’s tomb https://www.fancircleinternational.org/history/fans-of-tutankhamuns-tomb/ 517 Leadenhall Street Mosaic M#OA.290 1st-2ndC a.d https://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.a spx?partid=1&assetid=265205001&objectid=827697 514 515 112 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Pelta Shield Jewelry This Etruscan brooch although damaged has a great representation of the Pelta shield in the bottom right corner including what appears to be 8 spear tip like motifs seperating each shield seperatley. Is this perhaps the origin of the Alpha Arrow motif also found in some Byzantine Christian art? In my opinion this brooch may date closer to 200 b.c. as found in other jewelry518/objects that show this unusual center ‘v’ shape split on the pelta shield. My belief is, at some point the Pelta shield was used in jewelry as a parallelled uppercase omega Ω with variations to the letter style motif. Fig. 93- Etruscan Jewellery 400-200b.c..519 Cropped photo credit Thorvaldesn Museum CC0 1.0 PD.520 A late piece of Jewelry in Byzantium is a silver ring with a 6-sided hexagon head engraved bezel ‘ΟVAΛ/EΡΙΑΝ/OV’ (= Valerian)521 dating from the 4th-5th century has at least 5 three-tiered Pelta shields (desc’d as ‘mirrored scrolls & cut-outs’ AncientArt.co.uk 2018) on each shank/shoulder of the ring. The four largest shields are facing away from each other with the outer arms barely touching and the center tier unseamed. This inscription “may refer to Valerian the Christian martyr who was buried on April 14th in the Praetextatus Catacombs at Appia(n) Way near Rome or may refer to Valerian of Abenza a bishop in North Africa martyred in 457 who refused to surrender sacred vessels to the Vandals”. Ear-Ring Gold and Pearl Roman ca.0-200 a.d. http://www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk/en/collections/work/H1830 519 Etruscan Gold & Pearl brooch 400-200b.c. I#H1877 http://www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk/en/collections/work/H1877 520 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 521 Valerian inscribed Byzantine Silver Ring https://www.ancient-art.co.uk/byzantine/byzantine-silver-ring/ 518 113 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Pelta Shields or Scrolled Hearts in mosaics Found in mosaic pavements, the best definition I found for this ‘shield heart’ image is the term Pelta, an ancient design of a crescent shaped (semi-circular) shield.522 The typical shape to understand these are pelta forms is the telltale sign of the scroll back into and under the image as if two ends of a scroll parchment are exploding open. Probably the very early Post-Pagan/Early Christian images of hearts on pavements maybe the Oceanus (or Pontus) Mosaic w/four winds located at Faro, Portugal523 and dated from 2nd-3rd century. Surrounding the Ocean god was a roundel of ~26 Pelta shields alternating either Red or Brown with white marble heart like image in the negative space enclosed by alternating open clam shell to complete a circle for each motif. Fig. 94- Pelta around head of Ocean god 2nd-3rdC.524 Cropped photo from Jens Vermeersch 2011 - CC BY 2.0.525 On both sides of the silhouette roundel of Oceanus are various geometrics hexagon shapes with exotic flower stars crosses and Pelta Heart cross motifs.526 One motif is a black diamond cross with 4 two-toned (beige and black) hearts attached with a stem in the corners. A second motif is 2 pelta shields across from each other touching in a circle, where the two-toned hearts are pointing to each other hanging from a stem where the pelta shields meet. The third shown here with 4 scrolled hearts pointing inward to each other making a cross shape with the combined inner diamonds Pelta shield http://www.archaeologicalresource.com/Art/P/pel_Art/pel_Art.html Roman Mosaic god of Ocean http://barlavento.pt/cultura/mosaico-romano-do-deus-oceano-ja-etesouro-nacional 524 Mosaic of Oceanus Faro, Portugal https://www.flickr.com/photos/jensvermeersch/6151361396/ 525 Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 526 See Oceanus mosaic with 3 heart motifs http://ancientworld.hansotten.com/spain/museu-municipal-defaro/ 522 523 114 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY completing a nother cross. Using the 4 small triangles (a † cross shape) as part of the space inside the Greek letter ‘A’, this could very well be an Alpha over O[ω]mega. Fig. 95- Pelta Scrolled Hearts cross motif on Oceanus Mosaic 2nd-3rdC Portugal.527 Cropped photo from Jens Vermeersch 2011 - CC BY 2.0.528 A 4thC mosaic bath in the ancient Roman villa of Dorchester (Dorset, England) backs up the idea the Pelta is in fact a shield, since the ‘Durnovaria’ mosaic also has 4 spear tips protruding the four corners of the pavement between the shields529. The early pelta images typically do not have the scrolled arms/legs, so a change develops sometime in the Christian era of the 4th century. A black & white mosaic with similar pelta design was found from the ancient sunken city of Baiae which occurred during the 79 a.d eruption of Mount Vesuvius.530 The arms of this pelta almost curve back toward the center, but stop. The center part of the Pelta leg has 3 ‘v’s as if in the shape of a cross. Faor Mosaic del Oceano by Jens Vermeersch https://www.flickr.com/photos/jensvermeersch/6150808061/ 528 Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 529 Dorchester Pelta bath mosaic with spear tips. http://www.thejoyofshards.co.uk/visits/southtrip/dorchmus.shtml 530 Baiae, Roman sunken city found http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5144469/Sunken-Roman-citylies-beneath-waves-Italy.html 527 115 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The earliest true Christian scrolled heart maybe a piece of marble from a ‘wall in opus sectile’ that has the image of Christ between scrolled hearts that are vertical and pointed toward Christs centered. The scrolled hearts appear to have two inner hearts in forest green marble and the larger scrolled heart (in beige-golden colored marble) encompassing the 2 inside. In the bottom center of this image at the triangle or fulcrum is an ‘ ’ (Theodotus/Aegean style) which has curled legs to combine and produce a small case ‘ω’ omega out of the same character. While the larger portion of the pelta shield could be a modification of the Ω Omega letter. This artifact is located at the Museo (Museum) Ostiense in Ostia Antica, Italy531 which is believed to date between the 3rd and 4thC. Fig. 96- Scrolled Pelta Hearts pointing toward Christ in center ca.3rd-4thC. Author Illustr’d from Museo Ostiense in Ostia Antica, Italy.532 This similar scrolled motif (without inner symbol) occurs near an ancient roman town Augusta Auscorum (now called Auch, France) by 330 b.c. as a Roman domus533 was being renovated with Ivy & Heart shaped leaves, scrolled hearts (described as eggs by Archaeologist) and trident borders; were these Christian motifs known or disguised in early Euro-Roman times? The transition from Pelta shield to Scrolled heart may have occurred sometime in the 3rd-6th century as an example of an Egyptian (Coptic) linen and wool tapestry held in the MFA in Boston. The A# 01.5847 of this Byzantine influenced cloth is even described Scalaarchives.com http://www.scalarchives.com/web/dettaglio_immagine.asp?idImmagine=0064041&posizione=83&inCarrell o=False&numImmagini=86& 532 Ibid, Scalaarchives.com 533 Roman ‘Domus’ found 2017 in Auch, France https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2017/07/roman-domus-with-mosaicfloors.html#k4DRBk5JpzKKtsfV.97 531 116 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY as “spiral lines are at one end of each heart-shaped motifs”534 and a trefoil (3 leaf club) is boxed in between the center of four hearts. There was an even earlier attempt to make the heart image into a typographic ligature occurring in a 3rdC ring (Fig. 112) in which it is described as both lower case Greek letters ‘Lambda’ (=λ) over an omega (=ω) on the “rise” of the ring platform supported by a very large ‘ω’ omega that’s forms a giant ‘T’ (Tau) cross. Another very interesting detail, however barely visible in my illustration is at least four “juxtaposed peltae and scroll work” or another terminology I’ve started to use for the evolution of the pelta shield (= Scrolled hearts). Something not described or mentioned on this undocumented heart ring is the 4 obvious scrolled hearts in the angles of the ‘CHI’ or ‘X’ cross. Use the gold work to spot them, not the negative space. Since I have not found a Lambda over omega reference for a Christian monogram, I believe this is an aesthetically planned substitute for the Alphaomega (A over ω) heart motif beginnings. -An early 4thC mosaic (named Stibbe)535 pavement was found in Leicester, England in 2017 located almost the center midlands of England. The former Roman location ‘Ratae Corieltavorum’ was believed to have laid the mosaic centuries after its settlement. On one particular mosaic pattern is a pelta pattern combined with a negative space image in white. Can you tell what the white space is representing? Fig. 97- Pelta/καρδιά mosaic early 4thC Leicester, England. Author Illustr’d from various images.536 In the same vicinity just, a few meters from this location was a beautiful Peacock mosaic pavement decorated inside of a roundel could be viewed in a basement (underwear shop from the 1960’s)537 across the way from St Nicholas Church. This same Pelta/Heart pavement mosaic is nearly 100% duplicated located @ the Florina Museum, in Greece. This Macedonia culture produced this Kato Kleines from 2nd-3rdC a.d./c.e.538. Egyptian (Coptic) tapestry A#01.5847 https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/fragment-of-a-band74309 535 Stibbe mosaic early 4thC Leicester, England https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicesternews/roman-mosaic-bbc-opening-see-1791052 536 Ibid, Video of Stibbe mosaic early 4thC Leicester, England 537 Penny to see the Peacock https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/history/roman-relic-could-viewedpenny-2166716 538 Bilwander images for Florina Museum https://www.flickr.com/photos/bilwander/7717592052/ 534 117 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The difference between the 2 mosaics: The Grecian mosaic has a space between the pelta, whereas Leicester the peltas are back to back. Another 6thC item from the Visigoths are the capitals at Córdoba which have elaborate motifs. One in particular is a capital at Museum of Antiquities in Córdoba. Notice the scrolled hearts located in the corners of the cross? This scrolled hear repeats twice on the capital with two other cross shaped floral motifs with one possibly being a spade or heart-like pattern cross. Fig. 98- Scrolled Heart Capital @ Cordoba 6thC. Author Illustr’d from Tamasini 1964.539 The more common appearance of early Scrolled heart maybe the Mosaic road in Tyr, Lebanon dating to the 7th(?) century. Many such pelta scrolled hearts exist in Saxon jewelry from the 600’s as shown in the Metmuseum. Fig. 99- Pelta Scrolled Heart mosaic from Tyre 7thC(?). Cropped Illustr’n credit by Charles Bayet 1883.540 Tomasini, Wallace John 1964. Barbaric tremissis in Spain and Southern France http://numismatics.org/digitallibrary/ark:/53695/nnan67399 via Museum Archaelogical Cordoba 540 Bayet, Charles 1883. L’art byzantine pg. 33 539 118 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Pelta Scrolled Shields or Scrolled Hearts in Jewelry The earliest Pelta scrolled shields occurs in an Etruscan Ear ring stud which dates to the 6thC b.c.. This gold ear ring once had 30 shields (4 missing) on the 2nd row from the outter ring. A wave motif seperates the two rows of pelta shields. On the inner row surrounding the shield boss, 12 shields still remain for a total of 42 that was once on the jewelry piece. Fig. 100- Ear-Stud Etruscan, 6thC b.c.541 Photo credit Thorvaldesn Museum CC0 1.0 PD.542 A second early Jewelry example of a Pelta/SH maybe a heavy gold beaded wire belt buckle from the 1stC a.d held at TWAM543. The heart shape is very elongated almost a spear tip shape with a scroll tucking it back to polish the edges of a spear tip like weapon. A center beaded line is included to reinforce the spears presumed half tapers from the heaviest center balance. A possible 1st-3rdC Roman Legionairy ring544 has Scrolled Pelta Hearts cross of which the line between may denote the ‘X’ Legion. On the shoulder is a double pelta ‘rounded shield’ which has the smaller pelta inside sharing the same outer edge. Fig. 101- Pelta Hearts 'X' cross Legionary ring. Illustr’d by Author from Auction item.545 A Roman copper Scabbard546 ca.120-300 a.d. has a 3-tiered Pelta with a fdl cross coming from the center outward while attached to the outer scrolled pelta arms. The void between the fdl and pelta arms creates 2 more pelta shields or moon like motifs. This was found at South Cambridgeshire, England. A Pelta Scrolled Heart copper-alloy ‘Saucer’ type brooch found in 2014 at Lewes, East Sussex, England dated ~450-550a.d. has a long cross between four quarters of “open Ear-Stud Etruscan 6thC b.c. I#H1873 http://www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk/en/collections/work/H1873/ https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 543 Belt Ornament A#57.374 https://art.thewalters.org/detail/20897/belt-ornament-2/ 544 Roman Legionairy Bronze Ring https://www.ebay.com/itm/254151883540 545 Ibid,. ebay item# 254151883540 546 Scabbard Roman copper ca.120-300 a.d. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/860552 541 542 119 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY hearts” motif including a pellet centered in the heart. This brooch is chronicled as Anglo Saxon early Medieval per PAS547. Fig. 102- Anglo-Saxon scrolled heart cross brooch 450-550 a.d.548 Cropped photo credit 2014 The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC BY 3.0549 & CC-BY-SA 4.0.550 Another 3rdC piece of SH Roman Jewelry in the same century is up for auction in 2018. The Auction house recognizes only the “incised volute curls”551 and not by the heart imagery. An operwork fibule Hunnish (brooch) ca.4th5thC a.d. with 12 rounded scrolled pelta shields pointing inward with a ‘U’ like pattern occurring on top of each shield and stretching to the next almost centered. A red carnelian stone round centers the jewelry and a gold bead like filigree border holds the edges in place. A Byzantine gold pelta (volutes) cross ring ca.5th-6thC had a near duplicate pelta wire style auctioned @ Christies.552 Fig. 103- Hunnish Fibula 4-5thC.553 Henry Walters 1929. Photo credit The Walters Art Museum CCZ/CC0 1.0.554 PAS Chronology Early Medieval Anglo-Saxon culture circa 450-550 a.d finds.org record 638649 Anglo-Saxon brooch 450-550a.d https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/638649 549 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 550 Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ 551 3rdC Roman undocumented heart ring S# 14321 https://www.e-tiquities.com/A-Roman-Gold-Ring%20 552 Byzantine Gold finger ring 5-6thC Lot 487 in 2007 “described as four openwork volutes” https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancient-art-antiquities/a-byzantine-gold-finger-ring-circa-5th-6th5004767-details.aspx? 553 Fibula Hunnish A#57.558 https://art.thewalters.org/detail/37073/fibula-5/ 554 CCL https://art.thewalters.org/license/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 547 548 120 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A Byzantine Gold finger ring dating from the 5-6thC has four Peltas scrolled with each pointing and touching the sides of each other in a cross shape. This ring bezel is described as having “four openwork volutes”.555 An early 600’s Anglo-Saxon disk pendant (gold w/garnets patterned foil) probably from the Kent region of southeastern England has 16 filigree pelta/scrolled hearts with a 12 partial/half pelta to fill empty space. Not sure if it means anything but there a 4 pelta shields in between each arm of the cross. On view at MMoA item 466159 A#1987.90.3.556 Fig. 104- Anglo-Saxon gold disc pendant early 600’s.557 Joseph Pulitzer Bequest 1987. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.558 A Merovingian woman’s gold brooch (ca.7thC) which has 4 glass lozenges which are across from each other; 2 are green and the other are white(clear). It also has 4 round glass cabochons across from each other; 2 are blue and other 2 are reddish brown. Between each glass decoration is wedged a pelta SH (called “V scrolls” by BM)559 pointing outward totaling 8. Between the outer glass designs and the inner mother of pearl disc is a middle or second row filled with both ‘ƧS’s totaling 8. A similar type of scrolled heart also occurs 3x times on a Lombardic Gold Belt Buckle (A#95.15.99) with pellets to form a cross ‘†’ down the center of each scrolled heart. A Byzantine gold finger ring ca5-6thC a.d. Lot 487 https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancient-artantiquities/a-byzantine-gold-finger-ring-circa-5th-6th-5004767-details.aspx? 556 Early 600’s Anglo-Saxon disk brooch https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/466159? 557 Anglo-Saxon jewelry A#1987.90.3 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/466159 558 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 559 Textile Disc Brooch 7thC Merovingian M#1891.109.20 https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=92477 &partId=1 555 121 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY related object (item 464091 A#17.190.1683) to this collection is an Avars gold belt/strap with dbl IH’s with a club shaped cross formed inside dating to the 700’s. Fig. 105- Scrolled Heart belt buckle ca.600 Lombardic.560 Purchase 1895. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.561 Another Pelta Scrolled Heart silver coin similar to the brooch found at Hampshire County, England dated ~675-750a.d. has a long-pelleted Celtic(?) cross between four quarters of hearts circled with a single pellet below the heart and 3 pellets inside as an arrow like point design. The reverse has a quilled animal over a cross of 5 pellets, belonging to Celtic562 or Merovingian porcupine type coins. Fig. 106- Anglo-Saxon penny/sceatta ca.650-750 a.d.563 Cropped photo credit 2016 PAS & Hampshire Cultural Trust Generic 2.0564 & CC-BY-SA 4.0.565 More SH examples: In Caherlehillan, Kerry, Ireland ancient stone have various cemetery monolith carvings. One of them has scrolled hearts at the end of each cross beams, with another Langobardic jewelry A#99.15.99 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/469033 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 562 Kunker, Verlag 2008. The De Wit Collection of Medieval Coins – 1000 years of European Coinage: Part VI: The Sceattes. Dheniin thinks the porcupine is derived from the celtic coins of Carnutes. p29. 563 Sceat silver penny 675-750a.d https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/807006 564 Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 565 Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ 560 561 122 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY medallion of scrolled hearts forming another cross inside of a circle. It dates between 6th-7thC.566 A Byzantine Gold finger ring (dating 5th-6thC) with a roundel of 4 scrolled hearts pointing inward in the shape of a crude heart cross was sold in 2007 @ Christies lot 487 for $16,250.567 A 6th-7thC Italian earring with 4 scrolled hearts with 3 pellets, each in between a peacock or partridge circling a center disk of a small golden pellets ring. Culturally as Langobardic or Byzantine(?). Is this a confirmation that the scrolled heart is assigned as a royalty image with the peacock or partridge in this era? View this gold item 465108 at the MMoA A#17.191.6. A 6thC Frankish(?) disk brooch (gold, wire and iron core) has 3 circled rows around a center crossed shaped flower of rounded petals. The 2nd circular row from the outside has pairs pf pelta shields back to – two the scrolled ends touching each other while the top pelta loop is touching another forming a total of 12 pair in succession, however a 13th pelta is non-paired to fill the void in the unplanned space in the design. This item A#17.191.159 is not on view, but can be seen online @ MMoAcws568. There seems to be a pattern have 24 pelta shields in these brooch appliques, but this one has a 25th by mistake? An early 600’s Gold disk brooch from Faversham, England is similar to a slightly different variation of the elongated pelta (scrolled outward) wedged 4x in between an opaquewhite diamond shaped jeweled cross of which the center if a rounded garnet. Four rounded garnet pellets are positioned under the pelta of which could be in the shape of an ‘X’ in between the cross-cardinal points. This 6th-7thC Frankish disk brooch (gold, wire and copper alloy) A#17.191.157 is not on view but can be seen at MMoAcws.569 On a second look this could be and scrolled ‘A’ shape style of ‘Ω’ Omega . A 7thC Anglo-Saxon disk brooch (copper alloy, silvered, gold and glass plate) has 12 small pelta shields curled directly under the top with very little space for a heart shape, but more like a scrolled parchment. The twelve pelta shields surround a round red glass paste smudge in the center. This item A#17.192.57 is not on view, but can be seen online @ MMoAcws.570 Kerry Island Scrolled Heart stone http://www.beyond-the-pale.org.uk/SantAntounin3.htm Christies scrolled heart ring 5th-6th C lot 487 https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancient-art-antiquities/abyzantine-gold-finger-ring-circa-5th-6th-5004767-details.aspx 568 Frankish pelta shielded disk brooch 6thC Anglo-Saxon A#17.191.159 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464852 569 Frankish disk brooch cross with pelta wedges A#17.191.157 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464850 570 Anglo-Saxon pelta shielded disk brooch 7thC Anglo-Saxon https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/465362 566 567 123 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A direct Byzantine Greek character ‘P’(rho) appears in a Frankish 7thC brooch (gold, silver, gold wire, copper allow) in which the ‘P’ rho is positioned in the shape of an ‘X’ and/or a ‘†’ cross under four wide pelta shields all pointing outward. Put the ‘X’ + ‘P’ (1st 2 Greek letters χριστός of Christ) together and this is a Chi-Rho ☧ Chrismon/Christogram. This item 464805 is not on view, but can be found online at MMoAcws.571 If this was a shepherd’s staff it would be positioned open (?) & possibly facing the other direction. Fig. 107- Disk Brooch, 7th century.572 Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.573 Not a piece of Jewelry, but a very interesting item is a Coptic wool fragment with 8 pelta/SH’s literally interwoven together to form an 8-pointed star.574 In Christianity the eight-pointed star is recognized for Redemption/Regeneration and represents Baptism, hence some baptismal fonts have an octagonal base.575 Due to this piece being produced between the 7th-8th century it may have been copied from the Melchizedek seal/star576 that was placed on a mosaic represented @ St. Apollinare. The scrolled heart re-appears in many church mosaics from the 10th century onward. The Archangel Michael from the Pala d’Oro in Venice has Golden Scrolled hearts on the bottom of his cross thorakion tunic with an internal cross shape heart(?)s of leaves. See many more examples @ the Metmuseum. Frankish pelta shielded disk brooch 7thC w/P character A#17.191.116 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464805 572 Frankish 7thC brooch A# 17.191.116 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464805 573 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 574 Coptic ‘Fragment with Animal, Botanical, and Geometric Decoration’ A#41.793 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/52057 575 Evans, Dr. Shelley 2018. Yogaha: Quest of the Conscious field 576 Melchidesech w/8-pointed seal/star in St. Apollinare Basilica https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sant%27apollinare_in_classe,_mosaici_del_catino,_sacrifici_di_abe le,_melchidesech_e_abramo,_650-700_ca._01.jpg 571 124 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Pelta Scrolled Hearts in Tapestries As a continued hybridization from the Pelta but more heart shaped and pointed or scrolled Spade, this motif branches out into weaves, silks, etc.. A 5thC Tunic band attributed to Egypt has a great representation of the scrolled heart as a border from a tunic fragment held at MMoA. Also did you notice the pyramid/triangle or ΛI/AI border pattern with the different color association? If they were just pyramids or triangles why not one solid color. Is there also an IAω here ? Fig. 108- Fragment of Tunic 5thC.577 Gift of George F. Baker 1890. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.578 Fragment of Tunic 5thC, attributed to Egypt. A#90.5.183 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/443669 578 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 577 125 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Pelta Scrolled Hearts in Illuminations Basil I the ‘Macedonian-Armenian’579 born 811 and died August 29th, 886. He reigned from 867-886. After the assassination of Michael III, the Armenian/Amorian (or Phyrigion) by Basil and his allies who began to denigrate Michael and to promote Basil as the “‘chosen agent of God’, cast as the new David, whose imperial destiny had been foretold by signs and prophetic visions” (Tougher 1997, 30). Photios an interesting character was a patriarch and tutor to Basil and the children of this new dynasty. Photios was also responsible for providing Basil with Davidic genealogies to promote and instill Constantinian ideologies for the Imperial dynasty. There are a few stories that compare David and Solomon to Basil and Leo. One is the wealthy woman Danelis who visited both Basil and his future emperor son; and it is thought Basil “may have been seated on the throne of Solomon” (Tougher 1997,130). The prophet Elijah was established as the heavenly patron saint under Basil for the Macedonian dynasty, however Leo would take a liking to St. Demetrios as the heavenly protection. “Basil I, is said to have placed a customized statue of Solomon in the foundations of his new church” (Tougher 1997,125) Nea Ekklesia in Constantinople; according to Leo the Grammarian580. Basil as part of promoting his credentials in ecclesiastical sphere was to engage in an extensive program of restoring and starting church projects and associated structures, launching a conversion of the Jews581 (by Baptism), and correcting the dualistic Paulicians of Tephrike on the eastern empire582. Also, in the late 9th century the Homilies of Gregory of Nazianzus (Gregory the Theologian) MS Gr 510 were being produced in the Byzantine Empire (880-883) and dedicated to Emperor Basil I of Macedonian (r.867-886). A very interesting find, Folio BV and CR have a large cross on each page tasseled rope (A & V/W shaped pattern) hanging above and below attached to the back of the cross. Above the arms of the cross or inverted tears/up ended floating in the air. The rope also has tears connecting the V on the drop of the rope. Some of the drops have a red dot centered to them. Near the bottom of the cross has 2-4 purple inverted hearts/Alphaomega symbols both slightly different in shape. Folio CR & BV have 2 quads of gold diamonds (to form the shape of the cross) on the outreach of the cross arms. Folio BV appears to reconfirm the lower case ωμέγα/omega in the heart by highlighting it in white. Was Basil attempting to bring back the Macedonian star motif in folio 285r with 19+(24?) images of the former Tougher, Shaun 1997. The Reign of Leo VI (886-912): Politics and People. Pg 89 Magdalino, Paul & Nelson, Robert, 2010. The Old Testament in Byzantium. p249 581 Sharf, A 1971. Byzantine Jewry from Justinian to the Fourth Crusade. 582 Vogt 1973. Basile, 322-325; P. Lemerle, `L'histoire des Pauliciens d'Asie Mineure d'apres des sources greques', TM, 5 1-144. 579 580 126 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY heydays of the Macedonian empire? The Gregory de Nazianze583 ms Gr.510 (Basil of Macedonian) ca.879-883 have purple hearts on folios BV & CR. Fig. 109- Gregory of Nazianzus MS Gr 510 shields & scrolled hearts. Author illustr’d in color from BNF source.584 Folio 215v – Judgement of Solomon – decision regarding the child between 2 women. Folio 239r – Gregory and Emperor Theodosios. Is this the earliest Thorakion shield shaped dress? Folio 264v – crossing the Red Sea. Folio 285r – Vignettes with the >tear< shield shape, 24 scrolled hearts, including the 19+ (possibly 24) globes with Macedonian sun/star rays. Macedonian dynasty sun shield revisited. Folio 440r – Life of Constantine and Helena (mother). The Bible of Leo Sakellarios (Vat Reg Grk MS 1) has copied the 2 crosses in size and appearance from the work above and some hearts appearing on folios 46v(3x), 116r, 281r, 383r, and 450r which dates to mid 10thC. The hearts appear on the arms of the cross not as easily distinguished (since a few appear triangular shaped) but are 8 red Gregorie de Nazianze ca.879-883 ms.Gr.510 Purple Hearts scrolled http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84522082/f13.item 584 Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des manuscrits, Grec 510 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84522082/ or http://warfare.ga/6-10/Gregory_of_NazianzusBnf_Grec_510.htm?i=1 583 127 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY hearts on folio 2r. Also, on the border of f285r there are 24 purple scrolled hearts on this page as the “Allegorical Representation of the Festival of Easter”585. Fig. 110- Allegorical Representation of the Festival of Easter. Illustr’n credit by Lea brothers 1902.586 585 586 Lea brothers 1920. A History of all Nations, Volume 8. Plate X Ibid, Lea Brothers 1920. 128 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The Scrolled Heart appears in the corners of a mid 10thC Illumination in MS 28815 New Testament f162v. The scrolled heart (usually in gold) occurs dozens of time in the Menologian of Basil (ca.1000-25) following folios 101, 109, 135, 136, 155, 159, 226, 270, 278, 314, 324, and I stopped documenting. A Byzantine Octateuch (ms Vat.gr.747) created between 1050-1070587, and updated in various folios ca.1139-1150-1152588, and then again extensively repainted by a Paleologan artist ca.1280589. In the ms there are quite a few oval shaped shields including a few round ones as well. On the folio 193r is an alter box decorated with various red, white and blue jewels on a roundel with e cross in the shape of an ‘X’ within the each ‘’V is a scrolled heart to complete the cross also as a roundel inside of the larger jeweled image. On f215v, 218r, 219r and others shields have the ‘Alpha-Arrow’ pointer typically found on manuscript warriors. Meyer, Mati 2005. On the Hypothetical Model of Childbearing Iconography in the Octateuchs. p245 Ibid, folio 75r ca1152. Folio 29v ca1150 589 Kogman-Appel & Meyer 2009, p245 referenced by Hutter (1972) pp140,143-44 regarding folios 22v, 24r24v, 25r 587 588 129 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Inverted Heart (AlphaO(ω)mega/Αλφα ωμέγα) There are very few examples of Inverted Hearts prior to Christian versions found after the 3rd century. One possible very early inverted & divided hearts may be part of this mosaic monogram (Fig. 15) at the Magdala synagogue 1stC a.d. in Israel. However, being this early was the heart imagery intended to also be hidden in a monogram mosaic less than 50 feet away from the hearts carved on the Magdala stone? One example of an Inverted Heart came up for auction590 in 2011 recognized as a pair of Hellenistic period Greek gold ear rings ca3rd-1st C b.c.. The set has nude (open winged) Eros sitting atop an ‘inverted openwork heart’ which begins scrolled internally and a palmette upright in the heart of which a rosette is centered. This design almost appears spade like, but having Eros, the scrolled affect, slow terminating ‘v’ point and hanging pomegranate pendants changes your mind. This also resembles more of an Inverted Leaf/Spade than an Inverted Heart as I haven’t seen this conceptually ready before the 1st century. A Romano-British key handle with an “openwork heart-shaped” appears to be a large Lambda ‘Λ’ over o(ω)mega dated between 43-410a.d. This was found in Norfolk Co, England in 2004. There are a few other Roman-Britain examples similar to this heart shape found in England591. In the bible there are many questions asked bi-directly for the “Keys to the Kingdom (or heart) of God/Christ”. An early mention is 1 Kings 14:8, “I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes”. A later mention is a verse in Isaiah 22:22, “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open”., which refers as a governmental type/symbol592 to Christ’s rule on earth. A quote in Matthew 16:19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”. Another question in the book of Luke 18:18 “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit (the keys to) eternal life?” I Christies Hellenistic Greek earrings 3rd-1stC b.c. Lot 240 2011 https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancientart-antiquities/a-pair-of-greek-gold-earrings-hellenistic-5478396-details.aspx 591 Key Heart keyword search https://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/q/key+heart/page/1 592 Scheiflers, Michael describes ‘Key of the House of David’ http://www.biblelight.net/KeyofDavid.htm 590 130 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY could not locate another other reference to Keys and Λω/God than the ones in the Biblical scriptures. Fig. 111- Roman-British Λω key handle 43-410 a.d.593 Cropped photo credit 2004 The PAS CC BY 3.0594 & CC-BY-SA 4.0.595 There was an even earlier attempt to make the heart image into a typographic ligature occurring in a 3rdC ring in which it is described as both lower case Greek letters ‘Lambda\λάβδα’ (=λ) over an omega (=ω) on the “rise” of the ring platform supported by a very large ‘ω’ omega that’s forms a giant ‘T’ (Tau) cross. This Lambda ‘Λ’ may be in fact be a clever way to hide the Alpha ‘Λ’ without a cross bar which has been identified by Jordanian lead book researchers596 as having occurred at least in the 1stC b.c.e to 2ndC c.e. Fig. 112- Lambda Λ over omega ω ring 3rdC a.d Roman. Benjamin & Lucy Rowland Fund. Author Illustr’d from MoFAB.597 Another very interesting detail, however barely visible in my illustration is at least four “juxtaposed peltae and scroll work” or another terminology I’ve started to use for the evolution of the pelta shield (= Scrolled hearts). Something not described or mentioned on this undocumented heart ring is the 4 obvious scrolled hearts in the angles of the ‘CHI’ or ‘X’ cross. Use the gold work to spot them, not the negative space. Two possible explanations for the lambda over the omega. A. One is the word ‘Lamb’ the first 4 letters of Lambda, so is the “Lamb of God” possibly an early meaning for this item? Roman-British key handle 43-410a.d. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/94999 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 595 Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ 596 Alpha A examples as Λ www.leadbookcentre.com/downloads/response-to-the-bloggers.pdf pp18-21. 597 Roman Imperial Period 3rdC a.d. Item314461 A# 2001.135 https://collections.mfa.org/objects/314461 593 594 131 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Essentially 2 Lambda λ mirror images overlaid + the 1 ‘ω’ omega as the Holy trinity? B. Lambda is related to the Phoenician letter Lamed ‘ ’. Lamed is connected to the Hebrew bible by combining the first + last letters in the Torah to be a lev or heart and the lamed letter is the central character or ‘heart’ of the Hebrew alphabet598. Since I have not found any other Lambda over omega examples for a Christian monogram, I believe this is an early aesthetically planned substitute for the Alphaomega (A over ω) heart motif beginnings. Another example is an Egyptian Byzantine tapestry woven ca.4th-5th century which depicts Nereid (a Sea-Nymph)599 female haloed with a naked torso descending into a fish’s mouth only wearing a draped shawl over her left arm holding a pinkish-blue colored bowl while wearing an emerald necklace, sapphires and pearl ear rings with a gold single gemmed head band. On her left under the shawl in the open space blue background are five slightly different shaped inverted hearts with the upper half being very lightly pink and the bottom half very pink. Was the creator determined to introduce a Nereid as a deity, saint or goddess ‘due to the haloed presence’ or is the weave meant to depict another figure? Atiya describes this Nereid as a reference to Aphrodites rising from the sea as an “internal transformation of the soul in the water of baptism”.600 Many of the Nereids scenes even if absent of a christian symbol, does not mean the motif is secular. Did you notice the Lambda Λ over Omega ω? Fig. 113- Nereid (Sea-Nymph) from Hanging, late 300-400's.601 Purchase from the J.H. Wade Fund 1953.18. Author illustrat’d from photo Cleveland Museum of Art CC0 1.0 PD.602 Parson, John J website https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/AlephBet/Lamed/lamed.html 599 Nereid (Sea-Nymph) from a hanging, late 300’s-400’s http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1953.18 600 Coptic Encyclopedia Vol6 1991. Atiya, Aziz S. p1764 ref: Bourquet, P 1964. Catalogue des etaffes coptes Vol 1, no 167.Musee National du Louve, Paris. 601 Ibid, Nereid Coptic/Egyptian tapestry 4th-5thC #1953.18 http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1953.18 602 https://www.clevelandart.org/open-access (CC0) https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 598 132 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A fragment curtain of Late Roman 4th – 6th century shows a “priest holding up a vase in one hand and the other hand an insence spoon” (MFAB 2019).603 Around this blonde long-haired priest is about ~25 or possibly more (now gone) 4-5 toned colored inverted hearts floating around his body between the columns capped with an O(ω)mega capital. Fig. 114- Fragment of Curtain, Late Roman 4-6thC.604 Photo credit Charles Potter Kling Fund & MFA ©.605 Fragment of curtain 4-6thC A# 49.313 https://collections.mfa.org/objects/49902 Ibid, https://collections.mfa.org/objects/49902 605 Fair Use NonCommerical, Educational and Personal Use Only https://www.mfa.org/about/terms-of-use 603 604 133 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A Heart cross A\Λ over ω Coptic textile fragment made from the 4th – 6th century in my estimations due to the ancient simple design, material condition and less complicated loom setup. The Omega ‘ω’ highlights the heart in such a way, it appears as a double heart combined. This heart cross in a roundel surrounded by 4 red Lambda Λ almost heart shaped. Fig. 115- Alpha O(w)mega heart cross.606 Cropped photo credit MAA © Budapest 2017 NP.607 Another curtain fragment depicting a dancing figure of a woman has nine 3 toned inverted hearts (white tip, pink center and red bottom) with a consecutively different colored rope (gold, red, green then orange) every third twist. This linen cloth with tapestry woven of colored wool dates probably 5th-6th century a.d.608 Coptic textile fragment A#7427 collections.imm.hu/gyujtemeny/fabric-fragment/17041 non-profit free use http://collections.imm.hu/informacio 608 Dr. Nadja Tomoum 2010 Coptic Art revealed http://copticartrevealed.copticcairo.com/tour/life/life.html 606 607 134 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A two-toned (beige & blue) divided heart mosaic tile floor can be found at Shalom Al Israel ‘Jewish’ synagogue in Jericho which is understood to date to 450 a.d.609 Based on the placement of the Minora and Hebrew Inscription in the roundel the heart is placed inverted outside.610 It was said that Persians helped construct the mosaic, but in my opinion since this region was heavily Byzantine either Greco or Turkish artisans probably contrusted the mosaic due to the Spade motifs trailing back to those areas. Is there an IAω monogram hidden within? I believe this is the reason for the divided spade motif going back to the magdala monogram mosaic (Fig. 15). Fig. 116- Inverted 2-toned divided hearts Shalom AI synagogue. Author Illustr’d from various images.611 The Inverted Heart or upside-down Byzantine heart tip pointing toward heaven as an image pertaining to Christ regents on earth in Byzantium dating at least to the mid 6thC. The Aw icon as a multi-layered representation of the bread, word, shield and heart of his Holies highest reverence to God in the Greek perception. Although, the heart image goes way back before the 4th century b.c. it has different contexts and meanings before & after 313 a.d. the ‘Edict of Milan’ accord. Here the heart is taken from the floor mosaic pavements and lifted into the heavens of the church - no longer under the feet. What better way to surround yourself with a little password icon bestowed upon the eyes to the heart of Gods temple on earth. Churches consecrated by the kings in the ‘New Jerusalem’ and the Saints – The LORD (‘A’ Alpha & ‘ω’ Omega) is my strength and my shield (Aw icon); my heart trusts in him. It’s represented in the Apsis of San Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna, Italy. The Basilica was consecrated in 549 Ark of Scrolls and Jericho heart mosaic 450 a.d http://www.bible.ca/synagogues/ark-of-the-scrollsJericho-mosaic-Hearts-symbols-Torah-shrine-aedicula-niche-wooden-cabinet-stone-covenant-Mosesancient-synagogue-architecture-worship-Rabbinic-Judaism-Pharisees-archeological-photo.jpg 610 Jewish heart inverted outside of Minera & Inscription http://www.jewishjericho.org.il/english/thoughts/VisitingTheCityofJericho-en.html 611 A Mosaic Photo for color reference http://www.israelimages.com/see_image_details.php?idi=3660 609 135 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY a.d. by Bishop Maximian dedicated to the Syrian Saint Apollinaris the 1st bishop of Ravenna612 who died in 79 a.d. Fig. 117- +SANTCVS APOLENARIS with inverted golden hearts ca.549. Image credit Turismo.ra.it (Tourism of Italy).613 Justinian I (r.527-565) an emperor who sought to ‘renovatio imperii’ Rome’s former glory, went on renovations of churches with nea mosaics, expansion of borders & recovery of the western territories, strengthened economy, administration, art, literature and major building projects including rebuilding of the Hagia Sophia with a new building plan614. He was quoted by Procopius, “Solomon, I have outdone thee” (in reference to the first Jewish Temple). The Solomonic reverence may have played a role in the IH motif during this era. If not, it will for sure will be reproduced by Heraclius I and Leo VI in the Davidic/Solomonic veneration. St. Apollinaire’s inverted heart motif is believed to be 1st identified by Hubert de Vries in 2015.615 The Basilica of San Apollinare (Saint Apollinaris) church in Classe, Ravenna (built in 1st half of 6thC) has the image of the of the Saint (and 1st Bishop of Ravenna) with Golden hearts(inverted) covering his purple robe. Many sources have incorrectly identified these decorations as bees or closer as inverted hearts, but they are in fact the Basilica of Saint Apollinare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Sant%27Apollinare_in_Classe http://www.turismo.ra.it/upload/gallery/scopri_territorio/arte_Cultura/unesco/basilica-santapollinareclasse/basilica_di_sant_apollinare_in_classe_il_santo.jpg 614 Justinian I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justinian_I#Architecture,_learning,_art_and_literature 615 Vries,de Hubert 2015. Inverted Golden Hearts http://www.hubert-herald.nl/Heart.htm 612 613 136 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY combination of first Greek letters from Αλφα/Alpha ωμέγα/omega as a colorful pictogram ligature. Fig. 118- Alpha/Αλφα & Omega/ωμέγα of cross arms in apse of Saint Apollinare in Class, Ravenna, Italy ca.6thC. Cropped photo credit pequod76.616 The bee’s explanation is that they are in a garden and the “bee hive seems to come back from the dead after 3 months of winter hibernation”617 and the work of hive changing nectar into honey, etc. Question: Was the description of bees used to protect the image artifact from possible destruction as in the Iconoclasm?? Or is the bees symbol a personification of the Alpha and omega? A: Possibly, but a few examples did survive so the Iconoclasts were unaware of their meaning and may have overlooked due to their size. I believe the Aω motif was a secret code/symbol for the Imperial class as a beautiful golden shiny reminder of the personification of God “the Alpha and Omega” and bees provide the wax to light the candles of the world!! What better way to show your affinity to your God with symbolism without directly proselytizing your message in secular terms. The Saint Apollinaire for who the church is dedicated has a purple tunic of yellow/ golden hearts albeit inverted. The inversion clue is identified in the blue jeweled round above him high and centered - the jeweled cross (Crux Gemmata) inscribed at the top (IXΘYC), bottom (SALVS MVNDI), left, (A=Alpha), and right (ω=Omega). The word ‘SALVS MVNDI’ (Salvation of the World) dates back to 472a.d appearing on a gold coin of religious emperor Olybrivs (Anicius). At the Baptistery of San Giovanni, a similar circular mosaic has the blue background, similar stars, with same Greek case ‘Α ω’ (under arms of Monogrammatic cross) in Fonte, Naples, Italy built in the 4th century, circa 390. However, I could not find the inverted heart or Alphaomega motif in the San Giovanni mosaics. After the 7th century the lowercase ω=omega is replaced by the upper case Ω. In the 11th century byzantine book covers the lowercase ω=omega re- Pequod76, 2008 via Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sant%27Apollinare_in_Classe_(mosaico_del_catino,_part.).JPG 617 Bee’s explanation for St. Apollinaire’s robe https://www.orthodoxartsjournal.org/the-mosaic-apse-ofsantapollinaire-in-classe-ravenna/ 616 137 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY appears. AN: The Omega symbol on the fresco is more like an old English of double-u’s combined (uu). I believe this was intentional to make the Alphaomega inverted heart with little effort. Just so you know this is not a fluke, the San Vitale church (ca.526-547) in Ravenna, Italy is covered in this same heart motif. The Left tympanum has the images of 4 beige hearts (with a black background) in a cross shape repeated 53 times over an arch for the bible scene “Sacrifice of Isaac”. The south wall arch with Abel and Melchisdec also includes the beige hearts. Both the Theodora and Justinian mosaic scenes have the exact same design repeated about 25 times but horizontally across the bottom border. An ever more interesting clue that the heart denotes the Aw (Alphaomega) is the encrypt way the Greeks hide acronyms in their art. In the Basilica S. Vitale (ca.537-545) there is a mosaic with 2 angels with white robes holding a roundel with an 8 rayed sun christogramma monogram. In the center of the sun is a very robust white ‘A’ with the ‘v’ protruding from the bottom. This ‘ ’ is actually typographic ligature, which also includes an 180° inverted ‘w’ = ‘ʍ’ as part of a single character . Another example is found on a monogrammed cruciform gold Byzantine signet ring618 in the British Museum AF.272 ca.6th-7thC (Fig. 46). I’ve translated the ring as it was missing a character for proper translation. The correct inscription is IXOYE Aw. The IX is apparent on the right side of the ring, so the opposite side will also have two characters, the Aʍ. The omega ‘w’ was intentionally upside down as part of the ligature design. This ring uses the same typographic ligature as does the S. Vitale ‘ ’ monogram between the angels. This particular ‘ ’ font is derived from an inscription of Theodotus during the 1st century (6070 a.d619) in Greek found in 1913 @ Mt. Ophel (City of David) south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem620. Due to the stone being written in Uncial characters (Uppercase) the is no lowercase ‘ω’ Omega only -> ‘Ω’. Theodotus describes his father, grand-father “as priests and archisynagogoi, who together with the elders and Simondies established the synagogue (Hachlili 2013, 524) and functions in the inscription were for reading the Torah and for teaching the commandments. Another possible inverted heart (in gold or beige) occurs in an Egyptian Coptic wool tapestry between the 6-8thC.621 These Figures (of Saints?) in Niches or Arcades appear to be of high religious status with all but possible 2 of the 8 having a nimbus (halos). The two figures on the left (pictured) on the top row have delta\triangular Δ upside-down 6th-7thC Byzantine cruciform gold signet ring British Museum AF.272 http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=59375& partId=1 619 Ancient Greek fonts https://www.bibleplaces.com/greek_fonts/ 620 Limestone Tablet and unique ‘A’ font inscribed by Theodotus 1stC https://www.kchanson.com/ANCDOCS/greek/theodotus.html 621 Figures in Niches or Arcase A# 46.128a-b see image 46.128a-b_PS6.jpg for full view of textile https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/59595 618 138 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY two-toned heart-like shapes in their space behind them. The two-toned representation is typical of the inverted heart motif. Fig. 119- Figures in Niches or Arcades.622 Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund. Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.623 Two textile leggings fragments found in 2 different museums are very similar and probably produced by the same textile artisans in Egypt between the 6th & 7th centuries show a battle scene between Arabs, Persians and Ethiopians.624 Under the battle scene & ruler enthroned, is a blue background hosting many beige & rose pink inverted hearts while the beige roundels have 8-sided stars, pheons beside pyramid & circle shapes. The bottom section is rose/pink colored with many beige hearts. St. Demetrius a martyr and the patron saint of Thessaloniki625 would obviously also have this golden-bronzed inverted heart propogated to almost every inch of his tunic. The Ayios Basilica referencing his name was built intially 412-416 and was re-constructed626 in 629-634. Shown here with a patron holding an encrusted bible with four beautiful garnet(?) red tear-shaped jewels pointing to a round green emerald(?) centered jewel. Figure in Niches or Arcades. 6th-8thC A#46.128a-b https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/59595 623 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 624 Gayet, Albert 1908 excavations MT 28928 http://warfare.tk/6-10/Coptic-Textile-Battle-Tissus.htm 625 Torrance, Alexis. Paschalidis, Symeon 2018. Personhood in the Byzantine Christian Tradition: Early, Medieval, and Modern Perspectives. P117 626 Martes, Nikolaos K. 1993 The Flasification of Macedonian History, p73. 622 139 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The heart count of his tunic totals about 97 hearts, ~81 on the white and ~16 visible on the tablion (blue diamond shaped applique) left of his robe. An item barely visible is a badge of a bird/eagle(?) on his right shoulder possibly symbolizing one of the four evangelists. Fig. 120- Mosaic of St. Demetrios Basilica Church of Thessaloniki 7thC. Cropped photo credit Мико 2016 PDM 1.0.627 Fig. 121- Table patterns of Inverted Heart shapes found. Redrawn from various illuminations, enamels or mosaics. There are basically three different consistent inverted heart shapes from the 6th-12th century. A fourth shape is inconsistent and varies in shape with no distinct pattern. Here are my descriptions for the 3 consistent inverted heart shapes. A = Agape (αγάπη), 2016 User Мико https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Άγιος_Δημήτριος_Άγιος_Δημήτριος_Θεσσαλονίκης._Ψηφιδωτό_7ου_αιών α.jpg Public Domain Mark 1.0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/deed.en 627 140 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY unconditional love and love of God for us. B = Eros (ἔρως), or romantic love. C = Philia (φιλία) or Diamond A type “focused” brotherly love. And lastly is a pattern that couldn’t be determined. D = Storge (στοργή), family or natural love. C.S. Lewis described these loves as Affections (Storge), Friendship (Philia), Eros (Eros/in Love, Sexual) and Charity (Agape)628. I could be reading too deeply into these meanings of the heart forms, but since these 4 greek forms existing and appear to correlate to the 4 types of heart shapes found on Apollinaire’s tunic. These hearts shapes do come up as patterns in the motifs besides the fact they are all pointing upwards. Inverted Hearts or Scrolled IH’s occur on the following works of Art: The 5TH woman to the right of Theodora mosaic in the San Vitale Basilica may have red hearts in the shape of an inverted Alpha(V) pointing toward the right downward. An early or skinny version of ‘C’ from the heart table. Charlemagne’s shroud ca.814 has about ~16 beige hearts with purple A over w characters as the negative space circling the border of a roundel. Cropped Photo credit by NYPL 1914-15.629 (using A & B patterns) on folios Gregory de Nazianze MS Gr 510 have purple hearts BV & CR circa 879-883. Also, under the cross is a large flower/fleurette in a U shape coming out from both sides of the cross. Taking the cross as part of the image it becomes a very large lowercase ‘ω’ omega symbol.630 Enameled panel of Konstantinos IX Monomakhos “Monomachus crown”, Gold hearts on purple. Circa 1042. Zoe, her sister Theodora, the personification of Humility and Dancer all have inverted Gold heart’s somewhere on their dress. Enamel of St. Demetrios. Red hearts on Forest Green background. Circa 1st half of 11thC. Lewis, C.S. 1960 The Four Loves. Chapters describing each. NYPL rights statement http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/ 630 Gregorie de Nazianze 879-883 Purple Hearts and Omega symbol http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84522082/f13.item 628 629 141 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 122- Medallion of Saint Paul from Icon frame.631 Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.632 This enamel οΑγιος παυλος (Saint/Holy Paul) is a common piece of art to hang in Byzantium (Constantinople) and some Rus churches in the early 12th century (ca.1100). Notice his bible of blue & white hearts pointing to the corners in an ‘X’ shape? Enameled panel of Emperor Romanus IV (1068-71) Gold hearts on Blue background and King Geza I of Hungary (1074-77) Gold hearts on Red background. This enamel οΓεορ Γιος (Saint/Holy George) martyr warrior holding a cross is a common piece of art to hang in Byzantium (Constantinople) and some Rus churches in the early 12th century (ca.1100). Notice his tunice covered with blue & yellow hearts? His right shoulder may have a partially formed pheon (broad arrow) tip background. His tunic may also show a slightly covered tablion (diamond applique) a symbol for upper military rank. Comparing the Burlington Magazine 1912 image of St. George, the medallion has lost633 some of the enameling from his holy prefix from some point in handling. denoting his warrior Fig. 123- Medallion of Saint George from Icon frame.634 Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.635 Gregory de Nazianze MS Gr 550 circa.1101-1200. Folio 30r has a half-dozen small light blue heart leaves attached to the vines of foliage. Re-occurring blue heart leaves on Byzantine Medallion of Saint Paul from Icon frame A#17.190.673 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464546 632 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication from Metmuseum.org 633 The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs, Vol 21 pg 64. 634 Byzantine Medallion of Saint George from Icon frame A#17.190.674 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464547 635 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication from Metmuseum.org 631 142 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Folio 49r about 15 times. Also, on f285r there are 24 purple scrolled hearts on this page as the “Allegorical Representation of the Festival of Easter”636. St. Marks, Venice enamel ‘OR-FALE TRVS- DIGRA VENECI EDVX’ on the Pala dOro (1105?/12thC) Light beige or white on a Lime Green robe. St. Marks, Venice enamel ‘Соломон’ (Solomon) on the Pala dOro (1105?/12thC) ~98 Golden Dbl Hearts or Aw arrows on a Cobalt blue robe. There is one spade image below the collar of his neck line. A few small white tears/amrks align the hem of his robe, including multiple white pellets in between each double IH. By the 11th century the IH starts to appear on the bible of Christ in the Hagia Sophia (fresco or mosaics) and Saint medallions made of Enamel Cloisonné. See Saint Paul medallion. In the mid-10th century, the Viking Harald Bluetooth’s rune Jelling stone ca.965 “marked the oldest known Christian artifact and the (final?) transition” in Denmark declaring the Danes Christian.637 However a few discoveries of other Christian artifacts have challenged the date. On the island of Funen, at Aunslev, Denmark a detectorist discovered a Gold crucifix which Archeologists Malene R Beck said to be dated638 from the 900-950 a.d.. The Birka crucifix shows Christ with a heart shaped face double lined with small gold filigree pellets. This is almost identical to the Silver original Birka cross Hjalmar Stolpe discovered in 1879 in Birka, Uppland, close to Stockholm in Sweden.639 The two Viking age Jelling stones erected in Jutland in 965 a.d. were thought to be the “oldest known representation of Jesus on a cross in Denmark” (Worley 2016)640. By the 11th century some Scandinavia Swedish Vikings may have returned from mercenary service in Byzantium or Rus. These Swedish rune stones I found by accident researching a keyword search (‘Alpha omega Viking’?) on the internet and came upon Anne-Sofie’s research. Three of the rune stones have an eerily familiar look to the Aw/Alpha over omega design. U 1172 being the most exact form. The description of the U 1172 rune burial stone by Bjôrn and his brothers reads: “Bjôrn and his brothers raised this stone in memory of Sigbjôrn of Holmr”. Two other rune stones (U 686 & U 329) have a similar design to that of U 1172. Were they the same family or simply copying some of the design for their loved ones? U 329 rune which is the closest in design to U 1172 has Lea brothers 1920. A History of all Nations, Volume 8. Plate X Christianity comes to Denmark https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-perioduntil-1050-ad/the-viking-age/religion-magic-death-and-rituals/christianity-comes-to-denmark/ 638 Metal detectorists find crucifix, may change historical record of Christianity (in Denmark). https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/amateur-metal-detector-finds-crucifix-which-maychange-historical-record-a6936301.html 639 Archaeologists Dr. Martin Rundkvist 2016 blog describes Viking crucifix & related discoveries https://aardvarchaeology.wordpress.com/2016/03/12/viking-crucifix/ 640 Ibid, Will Worley 2016 interview of Malene Refshauge Beck, curator & archeeologist of Østfyns Museum independent.co.uk 636 637 143 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY the cross centered alone in the stone and the letters of the omega less ‘A typical’ going in different directions. The U329 stone translates to “Inga had these stones raised in memory of Ragnfastr, her husbandman. He was Gyríðr's and Ástríðr's brother”. But this stone may date a littler later circa 104575 per A S Gräslund. The U 686 stone is similar in that the cross is still attached to the omega like U 1172, but the omega character (snake tail) comes around the top of the cross to end. Fig. 124- Rune stone U 1172 ca.1000-50 a.d. in Sweden. Redrawn from Alicia Grenberger illustr’n for Anne-Sophie Gräslund 2015.641 U 686 is estimated to be constructed at the same time as U 1172. U 686 translated “Þorbjôrn and <kurþi> and Víðfari, they had these landmarks raised in memory of Vébjôrn, their father”. In my research very, few Vikings/Rus would have understood or learned of the Aw motif from the Byzantines unless they had some first-hand knowledge from either Byzantine artists/painters/illustrators, or access to the emperor or empress themselves wearing the palace gala clothing with the Aw motif. Another possibility would have been to spend a lot of time viewing the Christian art around Ravenna, Italy or the Hagia Sophia while analyzing their meanings. GRÄSLUND, ANNE-SOFIE 2015. The Late Viking Age Runestones of Västergötland: On Ornamentation and Chronology. Lund Archaeological Review 20 (2014), pp. 39–53. Uppsala University Research provided at http://www.nordiska.uu.se/forskn/samnord.htm 641 144 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Double Alpha Arrow/Double Inverted Heart Another design I’ve penned is the Double Alpha-Arrow or Double IH/Aw that appears on a few pieces of art. This Double Arrow/Heart can be a lean form or corpulent. The meaning I’ve gathered for this Dble Heart motif is there is a dual nature of the combined heart – the duo’s, David and Solomon, the Virgin Mary and Christ, Father and Son, etc will carry this badge. One possible early origin of the dble IH’s is a gold amulet box held @ the British Museum M# 1880.29 which supposedly contained ashes or relics. On the end are 6 hearts pointing outward with a small circle in the center. The outer 8 flat octagonal edges have an Islamic inverted onion like shape with the bottom having a rounded leaf extruded from the bottom of each side. No pictograph or ancient character could be found to explain this, so I would presume this is a floral motif. The earliest example maybe a wool textile in the Coptic culture of Egypt ca.5th-6thC titled ‘Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt’642 in which a haloed mother Mary (carrying a swaddled Jesus) is riding side-saddle on a donkey with Joseph and 1 other child trailing behind. In between Mary and Joseph in the mid space behind her head is a green Dble IH with 5 imbedded smaller two-toned yellow & red hearts(?). On Mary’s legs of her dress/robe are three hearts shaped in the form of an outstretched ‘V’. In the corner of the linen around the scene appears to be a Coptic letter with double overlaid characters of ϧⳉ ‘xai, xei’ (khei/key)?. The Akhmimic dialect uses ⳉ for X.643 So, is this symbol denoted Jesus being the key or simply the cross ‘chi’ form of the Greek ‘X’ or possibly both as a dualistic meaning? Fig. 125- Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt 56thC.644 Gift of Dr. Lillian Malcove. Photo image Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.645 Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt wool textile 5-6thC https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/75309 643 Kh/Khei Akhmimic for x, h, kha (key) https://seshkemet.weebly.com/coptic.html 644 Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt 5-6thC Coptic textile A#59.54 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/75309 645 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 642 145 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The Red Monastery Church near Sohag, Egypt ca.7thC has a fresco image of the Virgin nursing the Christ Child in which the arch being about 2-3ft wide has a double row of 12 white outlined spades with a Red background touching side-by-side instead one above the other and finally meeting in the middle to a cross inside of a pelleted roundel border. This spade motif has a white 5-leaf branch or tree of life motif internal and the spade is attached or touching the next consecutive image.646 In between each spade is an arrow or lily like motif pointing in the opposite direction. Is this double-spade the dualistic nature of Mother and Christ (child)? A cross example of this DblAA occurs on Syrian Glass (ca. 9th-12thC) covered in Gold foil with two consecutive triangle shapes pointed and painted (to the center) between black or purple dye. This Dark Purple glass tile “may have been used to decorate walls or others objects in a Syrian Church” (MMoA 1997, 256).647 Fig. 126- Syrian Tile glass.648 Rogers Fund 1946. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.649 In this example there is a center pellet diamond/square which creates 2 images; First is the ‘X’ shaped cross in black and the second being gold ‘†’ cross. Multile examples of the Double Alpha arrow (in Gold on Cobalt background) is the Solomon enamel (ca.11thC) located in St. Marks treasure in Venice. There are ~81 Double hearts adorning Solomon’s robe. The cobalt robe also has ~22 white tear marks following the lines and borders generally pointing upwards. Another interesting find Bolman E. 2012 Photo ‘Red Monastery Church’ from Sohag & Bawit article https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2012/byzantium-and-islam/blog/where-in-theworld/posts/sohag-and-bawit 647 MMoA 1997. The Glory of Byzantium: Art and Culture of the Middle Byzantine Era, A.D. 843-1261. p386. 648 Tile glass from Syria. A#46.174 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468152 649 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 646 146 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY shows a single Spade under the collar of Solomon, possibly due to a mistake on the arrow? The Imperatrix Irene enamel panel (Fig. 240) in the Pala D’oro ca.1071/1081 also has about ~70 of these double-hearts on her robe including a Thorakion shield with a patriarchal cross. Fig. 127- Double Alphaomega/Dble Inverted Heart. Repainted from various photographs.650 A lean example Double Inverted Heart is the Varangian Guard surrounding the palace which has the white double pointers on the doors found on folio 27/62 from the Madrid Skylitzes. It’s now obvious these same designs (come from same period or after Skylitzes) which appear on the Imperial robe of Alexios I Komnenos (r.1081-1118) in the Vat.Gr MS 666 f2r which has a full page of the Emperor that mirrors this Alpha-Arrow size and design.651 AN: The reverse ‘S’ character is also vined on the doors & cornice opposite this scene. I believe this Alpha-Arrow style eventually became a re-invention of the spade of the late 11th century. Then again, this Alpha-arrow maybe an offshoot(?) of the Exclamation mark motif. In the mid-18th century ca.1750-1800 a heart shaped brooch ‘pattern by mold’ was found in the eastern woodlands652 (Tribe of Mi’kmaq) of Canada and also from the Iroquois. Then later, ca.1796-1800 Alexander Stewart of Inverness,653 Scotland (NMoS H.1991.2) made a similar duplication of this Love Brooch that is described as a crown with 2 birds head facing outward due to attached beaks. “The Scot’s regarded that any brooch pinned to a child’s garment was an efficient charm against witches, hence the name “witches brooches”.654 If this brooch is repositioned with the crown inverted or the point facing upwards as the Masonic brooches found in North America are shown, then the lpha & O[ω]mega becomes very visible as the pin is a crossbar to separate the two characters. Taking this motif one step further this appears as a Dble Inverted (Fig. 49) Heart (Fig. 127). It’s my belief the Scottish jewelry smiths may have replicated this motif from an earlier ‘unknown’ specimen from the medieval period. Metropolitan Museum of Art 1984. The Tresury of San Maco Venince. Top right image of COΛOMON p57 Alexios I Komnenos in MS Vat.gr.666 https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.666 652 Luckenbooth brooch 1750-1800 McCord Museum http://collections.museemccord.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/M2/ 653 Luckenbooth brooch similar copy made by Alexander Stewart of Inverness ca1796-1800 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/fashion/jewelry-scotland-heart-brooch-luckenbooth.html 654 Parker, Arthur C & Mr. Whitelaw 1911. American Anthropologist Vol 13 pg284-285 650 651 147 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Alpha Arrow Spear Tip A motif with the shape of a pheon or broad arrow . Possibly an ancient form of Greek 655 arrow head’ (= ti)656 dating from (11th-4thC bce)? The Cypriot syllabary sign Etruscan number ‘mulvalx’ or equals 50657. A terracotta female figurine (Fig. 128) has the AAST below her chin on her chest pointing upwards which dates ca.600-480 b.c.658 The Lepontic/Lugano alphabet of the Celtic language on the Iberian Peninsula has an inverted as the letter ‘X’ during the 2nd & 1st century b.c.659 This pheon symbol 660 (#50 or L?) re-emerges in the Roman Legionaries ‘X’ & ‘IV’ Legion jewelry 1-3rdC a.d. and then occasionaly from 6thC onward found on the emperors, saints or holy warrior’s clothing may have developed into a Alpha motif. It was said by the time Augustus (r.27 b.c.-14. a.d.) finished there were about 50 legions, so is the symbol for the whole Corp Legion? Other occurencies are probably near the Holy Land, where the mosaic of Rehov/Rehob661 (3rd-7thC) synagogue of Beth She’an Valley has this similar shape & border pattern beside the narthex ‘halakhic’ inscription662. It has the look of a squashed spade with a dot underneath separating each consecutive image in an arrow pattern creating a box. This Arrow point is also a duplicate form of an Ancient and Byzantine Greek letter Sampi a paleographic image663 that has the number of 900 assigned to it and may have derived from the Ancient Ionian block style ‘T’ which in uncial the image shifted to a rounded or bent like image at Nea Moni (Fig. 136). George Dourus found this ornamental image refering to the number 4 in greek pottery symbols664 while the inverted fig/ivy leaf is the number 2. I suggest this image the Iota Alpha/Alpha Iota created as part of ther AIW monogram or just Iota Alpha. MMoA Cypro-Archaic II A#74.51.2363 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ Davis, Brent 2010. Cypriot Syllabary Fig2. Introduction to the Aegean Pre-Alphabetic Scripts. Pg41. 657 Naso, Alessandro. 2017, Etruscology, Volume 1, p258. 658 Cypriot arrow syllabary symbol 600-480 b.c https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/241917 659 Abrams, Harry A. 1993. The Celts. Conquerors of Ancient Europe. Pp146 660 Chicken-Track shape superimposed V + I perhaps number 50 or similar L. Gyllenbok, Jan. 2018. Encylopedia of Historical Metrology, Weights & Measures. p.139 661 Mosaic of Rehob https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic_of_Rehob 662 Vitto, Fanny 1975 photograph of mosaic beside inscription floor room east of the Bema. http://synagogues.kinneret.ac.il/synagogues/rehob/ 663 Ancient Sampi paleographic character for 900 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_numerals 664 Douros, George 2018. Aegean, Unicode Fonts for Ancient Scripts. Pg4 655 656 148 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 128- Terracotta femal figurine fragment ca.600480 b.c.665 Cropped photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.666 The terracotta Greek alphabet bowl/cup from Archaic period667 of Greece 600-480 bce last letter is the ‘w’, however the arms are so far outstretched, it appears as an inverted AAST. Fig. 129- Legionary or Roman soldier rings 1st-3rdC. Author Illustr’d from various images. From Left to Right: a.668 Senatorial Legionary IV Scythia with large ‘S’ on bevel, IIII(=IV) + on shoulder. b.&c.669 + or Iota Chi or IX (=9) translates to the Hispana Legion and a bull’s head is a top the ring. If IX legion is correct then the ring would be in the era of 117-138 a.d. using Kenneys chart. extended trunk on the bulls head between the horns with another pointing to opening of the horns. Terracott femal figurine fragment ca.600-480 b.c. A# 74.51.2363 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/241917 666 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 667 Early Greek Alphabet bowl 600-480 bce, held at National Archeological Museum of Athens, slide29 https://www.slideshare.net/AmeliaJones4/art-1010-chapter-5-ancient-greece 668 Roman Senatorial Ring IV https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stunning-Unique-Ancient-Roman-Silver-ringSenatorial-Legionary-IV-Scythica/132968498428?_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l44720&nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true 669 Kenney, David Xavier 2008 Index site refers as “Roman ring of the making of the Sword of Mars” 3rd-4thC http://romanofficer.com/PermcolB.html 665 149 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY d. A legionary ring670 with a Inverted SH + and the bezel has a cross split >I< for X? or IX? Could the Scrolled Heart be the Bulls head/horns similar to horns curling back in previous ring? This maybe possibly a re-production ring as many of same or identical rings can be found. e. Romano Celtic Ring from Britain671 has 3 characters seperated by a Lambda Λ or ‘V’(for Legion V?) pointing to an oval fish(?) like body with ‘xx’ scale pattern. Another Legionary ‘X’ ring found672 has 2 fish with similar scale like pattern which includes a tail fin. The Fish are terminating toward the center to make the IX or X shape almost identical to ring. In the Basilica of San Vitale (Ravenna, Italy) the mosaic image for the Court of Justinian has 5-6 Praetorian guards of which one of them in front appearing to hold the shield has a blue tunic adorned with ~2 dozen arrow/spear tip shaped images all pointing upwards.673 This maybe the 1st presentation of this motif applied to a person and in this case a warrior protector for the Christian emperor. This AAST may appear as a golden arrow tip on the soldier’s tunics in the Ravenna Basilica on the 6thC Justinian panel mosaic. On the prominent soldier, the arrow tip motif appears about ~39 times. Fig. 130- Justinian Soldiers on San Vitale mosaic panel. Cropped photo credit user london road 2011 - CC BY 2.0.674 Legionary Ring (Legion X) https://www.ebay.com/itm/LEGIONARY-ANCIENT-SILVER-ROMAN-RING-LegioX-Legio-x-Roman-Extremely-Ancient/173822266974 671 Romano Celtic Ring https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ancient-Romano-Celtic-Ring-with-Amazing-DesignsBritish-Detecting-Find/254144400727 672 Legion X ring with fish motif https://www.ebay.com/itm/LEGIONARY-ANCIENT-SILVER-ROMAN-RINGLegio-X-Legio-x-Roman-ExtremelyAncient/173828501771?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D201310031324 20%26meid%3Df97e9420230f412ba970e740de484c32%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D1 73822266974%26itm%3D173828501771&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851 673 Ellis School 2011. Image of the Court of Justinian @ San Vitale https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellisarthistory/5886226135/ 674 San Vital Justinian panel https://www.flickr.com/photos/16497759@N07/6136669868/ AttributionShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 670 150 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A Coptic textile fragment probably dating to the 500’s appears to have saints(?), birds and fish in roundels with the border having pheons pointing leftward from a serrated continual fence. This Coptic textile can be found at the Harvard Art Museums O#2002.318.6.675 Fig. 131- Coptic Fragment. Photo credit Harvard Art Museum/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Carroll F. Wales 2002 ©. Another 6th century image shows caped military saints (haloed) on silver weights with a spear (pointing left across their body to a leopard) and oval round shields. Below them is a pheon like character called a Sampi(?) or possibly IΛ (Iota Lambda) ligature and Aegean ‘ ’ Alpha. Fig. 132- Pound weight 6th century, inlaid in silver with military saints via British Museum. Illustration Credit by O.M. Dalton 1911.676 675 676 Coptic Textile fragment O# 2002.318.6 https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/315201 Dalton, O.M. 1911 Byzantine Art and Archaeology pg 78 p621. 151 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY This Pheon Arrow image is not without its expression in jewelry. A circa ~7th-9th century was found on ebay in the shape of a cross. One small difference is the attached fulcrum size on the East & West point arrows are thicker, while the North & South points are smaller and more triangular. This Byzantine bronze ring size 8 is listed as a “bezel in the form of Maltese cross” dated between the 5th-10th century formerly in an Israeli private collection. An interesting note is that the Maltese cross is more the form of a ‘V’ arrow and originates in the 16th century from the Order of St. John of Malta. Even if this style of cross has origins during the Knights Hospitaller during the crusades, I would suggest this “Maltese cross motif” was borrowed from the pheon iconography. Fig. 133- Byzantine Bronze Ring 5th-10thC. Author Illustrat’d from Hix.Antiquitatis 2019.677 A fresco image of the crucifixion scene from the Theodotus chapel ca.741-752 Santa Maria Antiqua, Rome has the AAST 678 pointing downward in the base of the cross as if it image was stakes holding the construction of the cross in place between the rock.679 Fig. 134- Alpha Arrow spear tip Illustr’d from Archangel Gabriel La Martorana, Palermo, Italy.680 Byzantine Bronze Ring 5th=10thC Hixenbaugh Ancient Art https://www.ebay.com/itm/282085053384 Author illustrat’n from Steve Zucker flicker 2016 image 32467621315 679 Zucker, Steven 2016. Crucifixion scene Theodotus Chapel c.741-752 Santa Maria, Antiqua, Rome https://www.flickr.com/photos/profzucker/32467621315 680 Gabriel mosaic @ Palermo, La Martorana, Italy https://www.flickr.com/photos/28433765@N07/42978941801 677 678 152 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Also, in San Vitale the mosaic of Christ providing a crown of jewels to martyr Saint Vitalis served in the army681 during the time of emperor Nero (ca.54-68 a.d). On his ‘right’ shoulder is a badge with a spear like motif in black pointing to the corners similar to the Nebo border arrow motif (Fig. 139). Is this an inference to the “right hand of God”? Fig. 135- San Vitalis shoulder badge 6thC San Vitale, Ravenna. Author Illustrat’d from Malcom Bott photo 2014.682 This image is more triangular without the under arms open. This example (Fig. 134) is almost a duplicate of the Praetorian guard’s tunic on the Justinian panel at San Vitale. I believe Ravenna arrow pattern is the same image since the Justinian mosaic is so high on the wall, it would be impossible to get a close up of these tiny patterns without building a scaffolding. A similar arrow head is shown in the arch above Melchizedek scene683 (in St. Apollinaire) with 14 pointing north and another 14-pointing south. Some of these Arrow/Spear tips give a feel of a fleur-de-lis with an occasional curl on the end of a few. Fig. 136- Alpha-Arrow pointer found on Varangian Warriors on the monastery of Nea Moni, Greece ca.1049. Repainted from various photographs.684 In the mosaic patterns from the Khirbat Mar Elyas ‘Byzantine period’ basilica in Northern Jordan which dates to 624 a.d. the North aisle first panel border has this ΛI Pheon (6x?) 685 just outside a rosette and fdl like cross pattern.686 These arrows point away motif from each other to the corners pf a half semi-circle in which a small heart like flower(?) is resident. The North aisle, third panel has this similar arrow, but pointing into the center Donnelly, Eleanor Cecilia. 1901. Short Lives of the Saints .p136. San Vitale photo © Malcolm Bott 2014 https://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmbott/15147617198/ 683 Melchizedek scene in St . Apollinaire https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Sant%27apollinare_in_classe%2C_mosaici_del_cati no%2C_sacrifici_di_abele%2C_melchidesech_e_abramo%2C_650-700_ca._01.jpg 684 http://warfare.ga/11/Byzantine-Nea_Moni-Chios-Betrayal.htm?i=1 and http://eikonografos.com/album/displayimage.php?album=71&pos=32 685 https://brewminate.com/brewminate-terms-of-service/ CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 686 Nassar, Dr. Mohammad. Sabbagh, Dr. Abdulmajeed 2016. https://brewminate.com/the-geometricmosaics-at-khirbat-mar-elyas-northern-jordan-a-comparative-study/ 681 682 153 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif of two round flower like pods and is identified as a ‘lotus motif’ appear in the unclosed shape of the number 8(?). J.S. FRIDAY 687 . The two pods Another piece of bronze Jewelry, a reliquary cross pendant dating from the 8th – 10th century found in the former Yugoslavia (Greenrivercoins 2019).688 It appear the construction of the cross was started with a long North South wooden pole and then on the East West arms with a pheon coming together from both sides as a space is evident not exactly touching one side of the cross. The description continues with it being a “Dark green patine” and once had a “niello inlay”. A rusty brown Coptic fragment tapestry from the 9th – 10th century has 2-3 consecutive sets of 14 rows of black Pheon IΛ arrows totaling around ~36 down a small strip of linen wool fabric. This small piece can be found @ Museum of Applied Arts Budapest Access# 7467.689 Fig. 137- Fabric Fragment Pheon motif.690 Rotated photo credit MAA © Budapest 2017 NP.691 The arrow arms of the pointer are sometimes rounded or cut. The Varangian warrior’s legs and other Holy Warriors are covered with Gold Alpha-arrow/pointer motif on the background of blue in the mosaic @ New Moni, Greece ca.1049-55. Being the Verangians were partially if not all Viking ancestry, the ᛏ is also a runic character ᛏ called ‘Teiwaz’ the ON god of war, Tyr.692 This rune is “believed that he [Tyr], protects those who fight in battle or of mind and sybolizes trimph and victory in any competition” (Petrinec 2013, 26). On the same warriors there is a slightly altered arrow with the center beam shortened and the top larger as if it’s the intro to the spade design. The 2nd Ibid, brewminate.com terms of use CC BY 4.0 Greenrivercoins ebay item 223600323810 https://www.ebay.com/itm/BYZANTINE-BRONZE-RELIQUARYCROSS-PENDANT-8th-10th-c-AD-BBRCP/223600323810 689 Fabric Fragment 2018 A#7467 9-10thC collections.imm.hu/gyujtemeny/fabric-fragment/17158 690 Ibid, Coptic Frabric Fragment Linen wool 691 non-profit free use http://collections.imm.hu/informacio 692 Petrinec, Monika 2013. The Runic Script and its Characters in Old English and Middle English Texts. p14,16 https://repozitorij.ffos.hr/islandora/object/ffos%3A1403/datastream/PDF/view 687 688 154 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY mosaic(right) inner Narthex, the Betrayal (of Malchus) Jesus arrested scene shows (Imperial Guardsmen/ Rus) blonde complexioned men with staves, lamps, a precious oval shield, double & single headed axes typical of the Varangian “Imperial” Guard. But wait, look inside the Oval Shield there is a >Saints< shield inside another >Tear< shaped shield. Malchus also has 6 gold Alpha-crosses images surrounding gold shaped diamond on the chest of his robe. More details describing the Bible scene and the Byzantine Varangian guard can be found on warfare.netau.net693. Fig. 138- Malchus betrayal scene @ Nea Moni. (Icons courtesy of www.eikonografos.com, used with permission).694 This style of pointer shown on (Fig. 139) dates back to Syria Roman Imperial period in which a limestone mosaic fragment with bust of a woman was recovered and now in a museum which dates from the early 3rd century ca.200-225 a.d.695 Fig. 139- AAST or Nebo pointer in Chapel of Theotokos in Wadi ‘Ayn al-Kanish and Sts Lot & Procopius, Mukhayyat, Mt. Nebo in Jordan. Author Illustr’d from Hachlili 2009.696 But the next oldest site of the AAST is found ~59 times on the border of a winemaking mosaic pavement697 in the church Holy Martyrs St Lot and St Procopius, Mukhayyat, Mt. Nebo in Jordan. This church was built in 557 near the St. George the map church in Betrayal Scene and Byzantine Guards http://warfare.netau.net/11/Byzantine-Nea_Moni-ChiosBetrayal.htm 694 Agiografos http://www.eikonografos.com/album/displayimage.php?pos=-6026 695 Mosaic fragment w/bust of a woman Syria ca.200-225 a.d. O#994.220.21 Royal Ontario Museum https://collections.rom.on.ca/objects/364930/mosaic-fragment-with-bust-of-a-woman? 696 Hachlili, Rachel, 2009. Ibid. pp. 304,408. 697 Hachlili, Rachel, 2009. Ancient Mosaic Pavements: Themes, Issues, and Trends Selected Studies. P304. 693 155 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Madaba698. There may be some accidental 3-4 Fdl’s pattern added to the pavement southern side? Again, occurring in a nave mosaic in the Chapel of Theotokos699 in Wadi ‘Ayn al-Kanish. Mt. Nebo is this same repeat AAST motif in the border of the pavement dated 6thC. Much of these early pavements were natures scenes, so could these be feet prints700 of Peacocks especially since these are repeated many times on the border of the mosaics? Coptic flax wool fabrics also have been produced (Egyptian, near east) with this Arrow or ‘T’ cross imagery. A roundel with a red border has these beige arrows going around the edge every other two are switch in the opposite direction. The internal imagery is 6 smaller roundels with a cross or star(?) surrounding one central portrait of someone. This wool fragment dates between 5th – 6th century.701 A woven wool tapestry fragment attributed to Iran, Iraq or Egypt dating from the mid 8thC has over 2 dozen golden AAST’s which focus on the flowers/rosettes leaves on the upper portion of the textile. It is believed to have been dated (or produced) during the reign (744-49) of the Umayyad caliph Marwan II based on inscriptions from two related textiles.702 The Alpha Arrow Spear Tip or AI appears on a Christian coin (Error! Reference source not found.) in Mercia, Britain during the reign of king Offa occurring before 792 a.d. Mostly the warriors prior to 1050 have this arrow motif, however there are exceptions found in the Menologian of Basil folios f14 (saint), f35 (windows shades), f52 (above columns), f75 (on soldier’s white robe), f86 (on soldiers blue leggings), f157, f228, f246, f232 (cornice of building, the clubs(?) motif. Church of St Lot and St Procopius built in 557 in Jordan https://www.rich.mcclear.net/2017/01/04/thechurch-of-st-lot-and-st-procopius/ 699 Ibid. p.408. 700 Peacocks have 4 toes, however if the back toe of the foot doesn’t make an impression you would have this image. 701 Roundel w/Figure and decorations Coptic 5-6thC A#15.470 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/9211 702 Woven tapestry fragment from Iran, Iraq or Egypt A#50.83 https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-ofart/50.83/ 698 156 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A Byzantine Octateuch (ms Vat.gr.747) created between 1050-1070703, and updated in various folios ca.1139-1150-1152704, and then again extensively repainted by a Paleologan artist ca.1280705. In the ms there are quite a few oval and tear shaped shields (totaling 197) including a few round ones as well. On folios 80r, 215v, 218r, 219r, 224v, 240r, 243r and others shields have the ‘Alpha-Arrow’ pointers typically found on manuscript warriors. This same ΛI appears several times in Blue or Red on a white curtain over the well in the (ms.BNF.gr.1208) Homilies of James Kokkinobaphos ca.1st half 12thC manuscript f170 in the Annuciation at the Spring.706 Fig. 140- Alpha-Arrow found on shields ms.gr.747. Author Illustr’n from manuscript.707 Meyer, Mati 2005. On the Hypothetical Model of Childbearing Iconography in the Octateuchs. p245 Ibid, folio 75r ca1152. Folio 29v ca1150 705 Kogman-Appel & Meyer 2009, p245 referenced by Hutter (1972) pp140,143-44 regarding folios 22v, 24r24v, 25r 706 Paris BNF Gallica gr.1208 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10723812k/f170.item 707 MSS Vatican Greek 747 https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.747 703 704 157 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY And last but not least the Skylitzes ms f27/62 shows this AAST on the door of the palace protected by Varangian guards. The ms is dated ca.1080/1100+. Fig. 141- Door front of Varangian guard with Arrow in Skylitzes f27/62. ca.1080/1100+. Author penciled color image from various images.708 Many Free Mason(ry) chapters from Scotland and England have dozens of symbols with the arrows embedded or modified into their marks. These and other symbols are not isolated to Scotland or England. These and other closely related Mason Marks can be found709 in Atalah Masjid N.W.P, Sadiya (upper Assam), Palace @ Saadetabad (near Ispahan Persia),Tartus & Jebel (Northern Syria), Jerusalem, Great Pyramid (Gizeh, Egypt), Abu Gosh, Palestine (and ruined cities beyond Jordan), Adalia, Lycia, Roman Altars, Hadrians wall, Lincoln & Lausanne & Geneva Cathedrals, St. Stephen ( Vienna), Santa Maria, (Segovia, Spain), Presburgh (Hungary), Youghal (Ireland) and probably many more not yet documented. The Kilwinning (St. Winning) ‘Mother lodge’710 located in Scotland south of Glasgow near the western shores is believed to be the origin of other Varangian Guard Skylitzis Chronicle https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Skylitzis_Chronicle_VARANGIAN_GUARD.jpg 709 Prakashan, Popula 1875. Indian Antiquary, Volume 4. Mason Marks around the world p305-306 710 Wylie, Robert Jistory of the Mother Lodge, Kilwinning. 708 158 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Masonic charters. Fig. 142- Some various Mason arrow marks of early sites. Select image Illustr’n credit Laurie 1859.711 Duke Vladislava712 has a ring made with a carved image of Christ in the 1st quarter of the 15th century of which a side symbols of 7 arrows inside of a roundel pointing to its edge. Laurie, William Alexander 1859. The History of Free Masonry & the Grand Lodge of Scotland:..pp424-426 Duke Vlasislava ring with roundel of pointers http://www.narodnimuzej.rs/wpcontent/uploads/2018/06/Prsten-vojvode-Vladislava-prva-chetvrtina-15.-veka-zlato-nepoznati-lokalitet.jpg 711 712 159 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Inverted Fig Leaf Spade The spade occurs less frequently than the IH imagery, but does also have an ancient connection to the same 4th-6th century Christian art period as the IH. The Spade leaf may have its origins from the ‘ficus religiosa’ or sacred fig (Bodhi or peepul/pipal tree) of the Hindus713. The Harrapan people (ca.3300-1300 b.c)714 in the Indus valley worshipped bulls, Siva-lingas and pipal (fig) trees715 in which the leaf has a very heart shape with an elongated tip. The Mundigak, Kabal Museum in Afghanistan which was a neighboring connected culture is located just NNW of the Indus valley, had a pottery Goblet decorated with pipal leaves in its museum in the 1985 catalogue.716Bowl a is called the ‘Baloch bowl’, from the Sohr Dam site and is dated 3000BCE and the author of the article describes the motif as an “inverted heart”.717 Fig. 143- Pipal pottery examples. Author Illustr'd from 3 sources.718 The Spade is basically an inverted heart with a stem, fulcrum or stand. The spade imagery also typically has the point on top like the heart, whereas the Pelta is rounded like a half crescent moon. If the spade is turned upside down , then it becomes a heart with a small stem still attached. There are also some Egyptian feathered ‘semicircle’ fans called ‘shuwt’719 that have this inverted double ‘uu’ shape under the ‘Golden fan’ & ‘Ebony fan’ found with Tutankhamun ca.1323 b.c. They are thought to restore the ‘breath of life’ to the deceased and for the living, “the flabellum was used as a signifier of a ‘divine presence’ (Veldmeijer & Ikram 2013, 50). These fans include 2 Hunter, Robert 1900 The American Dictionary and Cyclopedia Vol7 p3045 Indus Valley Civilization https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley_Civilisation 715 Lal, Makkhan ~2000. Ancient India Textbook for Class XI. p90. 716 Tissot, Francine 2006. Kabal Museum catalogue 1985 Inv# 60.17-1413, p19. 717 Luke, Catriona May 29 2016. History: The Secret life of the peepal. Dawn magazine 718 A. https://www.dawn.com/news/1261112 B. https://www.harappa.com/content/ceramic-andterracotta-figurines-balochistan-katolec-collection C. http://www.antiques.com/classified/Antiquities/Ancient-Near-East/Antique-Indus-Valley-Terracotta-Vesselwith-Pipal-Leaf-Motif---SF-189719 Fans of Tutankhamun’s tomb https://www.fancircleinternational.org/history/fans-of-tutankhamuns-tomb/ 713 714 160 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY fangs are attached to the center shaft below the artefact giving it the 3 fangs similar to the scrolled heart. An interesting find is the roman form of the letter Sampi (also, , , , , ) is called the “ace-of spades form”720 due to its single partial ‘pip’ of the spade. The spade pattern may even occur further back in the Late Minoan IB period ca.15251450 b.c as visible on a terracotta vessel fragment @ MMoA item#248553 A#11.186.52 but documented as an “Ivy pattern”.721 This so-called Ivy pattern includes a base as does the Spade from the peacock imagery. Inside the petal is a Sampi like character nicely drawn as part of the leaf. This shard was found at Phylakopi, island of Melos/Milos. Fig. 144- Terracotta vessel fragment ivy pattern.722 The Cesnola Collection by exchange 1911. Cropped photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.723 Another spade (more triangular & few rounded) like motif or ‘spade spear head’ symbol of Marduk (a warrior god) which comes out of Mesopotamia around Babylon around 3000 bc to 1000 bc.724 The British Museum holds a cylinder seal (ca.7thC – 6thC b.c.) with “mushhushshu” the snake dragon of Marduk holding the spade on a stand on Sampi letter “ace of spade form” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampi Teracotta vessel fragment Late Minoan with Ivy(?) pattern MMoA Item# 248553 A# 11.186.52 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/248553 722 Ibid, A#11.186.52 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/248553 723 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 724 Brisch, Nicole 2016 http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/marduk/index.html 720 721 161 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY his back.725 Some of the spade or spear tip on shaft appears to be more conancial (cone) shaped than spade or triangular as seen in another BM cylinder seal from the 8thC b.c.726 This kudurru fragment shows ‘mushrushshu’ the dragon sitting/kneeling in front of the triangular spade of Marduk. Fig. 145- Top fragment of a kudurru with mushhushshu dragon & divine symbols ca.1156-1025 b.c.727 Rogers Fund 1985. Cropped Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.728 One example of a Spade came up for auction729 in 2011 recognized as a pair of Hellenistic period Greek gold ear rings ca.3rd-1st C b.c.. The set has nude (open winged) Eros sitting atop an ‘inverted openwork heart’ albeit ‘inverted’ which begins to scrolled internally and a palmette upright in the heart of which a rosette is centered. This design almost appears spade like, but having Eros, the scrolled affect, slow terminating ‘v’ point and hanging pomegranate pendants changes your mind. This also resembles more of an Inverted Leaf/Spade than an Inverted Heart as I haven’t this conceptually ready before the 1st century. There are many examples in this same Cylinder Seal with ‘mushhushshu’ holding spade upon staff stand https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gal lery.aspx?assetId=417387001&objectId=1424107&partId=1 726 Cylinder Seal M#89763 ollection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=805318&partId=1&searchText=mesopotamia&pa ge=60 727 Second Dynasty of Isin ca.1156-1025 b.c. A#1985.45 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/327048 728 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 729 Christies Hellenistic Greek earrings 3rd-1stC b.c. Lot 240 2011 https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancientart-antiquities/a-pair-of-greek-gold-earrings-hellenistic-5478396-details.aspx 725 162 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY period of a traditional (right side up) heart and also done in a Red Garnet/red stones/red glass. See MMoA A#1995.539.11a,b. described as “a heart-shaped pendant”.730 See also Christies Lot 116 from 2004 ear rings described as “central heartshaped elements modern”.731 In the Hellenistic period of the Etruscan culture an Alabaster cinerary urn732 3rdC b.c. depicts a scene on the side of Greeks fighting Amazons with each having different shield shapes (round vs pelta). On the lid of the urn is a woman reclining as if trying to lay comfortably in the heat with a large fig spade or heart leaf like shaped fan in her hand in almost the same size as her head. Fig. 146- Alabaster cinerary urn 3rdC b.c.733 Purchase 1896. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.734 Pair of gold earrings w/Egyptian Atef 3rd-2ndC b.c. A#1995.539.11a,b https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/256238 731 Pair of Greek Gold & Jewelry Hellenstic period ca.3rd-1stC b.c. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/apair-of-greek-gold-and-garnet-4396734-details.aspx 732 Alabaster cinerary urn Etruscan 3rdC b.c. A#96.9.225.a,b https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/246269 733 Ibid,. Alabaster cinerary urn Etruscan 3rdC b.c. A#96.9.225.a,b 734 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 730 163 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Another terrcotta statuette of a Boetian(?) woman from the same period shows her holding a spade shaped fan wearing a pink shaded mantle with Egyptian blue highlights also on the chiton. Her hair colored red. Fig. 147 - Terracotta statuette of a draped, standing woman 3rdC b.c.735 Rogers Fund 1906. Cropped Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.736 Hellenistic Greek Boetian statuette A#06.1114 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/247532 736 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 735 164 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY An early example typical of what we may think of a spade from the suit of cards can be found on a murial from the ancient town of Zeugma (Ζεῦγμα) village in Southern Turkey dating to the 2ndC b.c.. The ancient Zeugma town was covered by the damming of water in the year 2000 by a water works project, but many of these items were spared, recovered and placed in the Gaziantep museum. Penelope, wife of Odysseus who has a spade leaf on her left arm. Beside Penelope, is Deidamia the wife of Achilles (Trojan War) who has a son by the name of Neoptolmus. The story of these two women may parallel devotion to their husbands (during war, expeditions or other matters), abandonement (widowed bed)737 or some other life story in Greek tradition or Heroism. Fig. 148- Penelope murial Zeugma, Turkey. Author Illustr'd from Pilar Torres photo 2011. 738 Hagedorn, Suzanne C. 2004. Abandoned Women: Rewriting the classics in Dante, Boccaccio & Chaucer p.44 738 Gaziantep Museum, Turkey https://www.flickr.com/photos/pilar_torres/6223837266/ 737 165 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY In the Tillya Tepe treasure tombs (ca.100 b.c-100 a.d.)739 from Afghanistan (GrecoBactrian) there have been various gold and turquoise jewelry (called bracteate740) created around the heart motif.741 Nearly all of these heart shaped applique’s were worn by Bactrian princesses. A collapsible crown742 has many gold coin and leaf/flower shapes hanging from it with 3 spade leaf-triad atop the crown – 2 pointing inward is pointing upward. Another heart towards each other while the 3rd final spade shaped gold leaf from the same period has a midrib crease similar to the divided heart motif – an eyelet/loop for a pendant to hang with heart pointing down.743 This group of nomadic Bactrian treasures has much Greek, some Hindu, Asian, and Islamic influences probably due to its land-locked of Western Asian or Central Asian location, the Cultural period travels in which this group had them produced. Ruins at Talayeh Tepe/Tillya Tepe – Bactrian Gold http://farlang.com/profiles/afghanistan-museum-kabul Afghanistan Hidden Treasures Educator Resource Packet 2008. - A type of small ornament, usually flat and often made of metal sewn or attached to the clothing for personal adornment p115. 741 Samuel, Barbara 2008. Discovery Guide: Afghanistan, Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul. p6 742 Collapsible crown https://discovermagazine.com/galleries/zen-photo/b/bactrian-gold p16 743 British Mueum pendant pipal leaf 1st-2ndC a.d. M#1880.3692 739 740 166 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Αλφαωμέγα Spade The Spade is related to the IAω in the sense that the monogram can be situated inside the spade image, particularly where a few churches in Jordan and Turkey have a divider down the center and each side has a different color. Is this the dualism of God the Father and God the Son shared by two in one image? The mosaic below is loosely described: “shows Jets of water spewing from ‘ω’ omega supported chalice-shaped fountains with peacocks (rear facing plumage) and one partridge in the interspace”. Four streams (heaven?) from which the stags drink, flowing from the sacred mount – all of which are Christian symbols (Lethaby 1904, 36)”. The actual rear facing plumage of a Peacock goes beyond the inner Spade to an even larger open clam shell on the peafowl. So, now we see where the Spade imagery is derived, but I believe the imagery just expands perfectly into the Aω motif due to its unique IH Christian shape. The spade I believe does relate to the inverted heart because of its IH likeness, but it also has a triangular fulcrum (in place of peafowl legs), or line extending from the bottom of the image either visible or not visible. Fig. 149- Spade of Peacock in mosaic of Carthage, Tunisia, Africa ca.4th-5thshaft century in British Museum.744 Cropped Illustr’n credit William Lethaby 1904.745 British Museum original image found available at http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gall ery.aspx?assetId=949641001&objectId=58718&partId=1 745 Lethaby, William R 1904. Medieval Art: From the Peace of the Church to the Eve of the Renaissance, 3121350. Pg 37. 744 167 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY In the 4th-7th century the Syriac Monastery (founded ca.397) called Mor Gabriel (or Saint Gabriel) located on the Tur Abdin plateau near Midyat, Mardin Provence of SE Turkey created a large ceiling mosaic of grape vines (and a border of Spades) presumably due to the wine making produced at the site. In the 6th century many Coptic monks were present there. “The ceiling mosaic is attributed to Justinian746 whose workers completed the work in the early Fifth century” (Johnson 2012, 73) – reign of Justinian was 526-565, the 6thC. The Spade leaf motif appears to have made it to Ciqikou, Chongqing, China before the 9th century as a Persian “scrolled leaf” modification with center engraved crosses.747 This is believed to be the oldest mosaic (ie,. Christian?) in the Middle East.748 Notice the dichotomy of 2-toned colors? Fig. 150- Spade (Fig leaf) mosaic at Mor Gabriel, Midyat, Turkey. Author Illustr’d from Tripadvisor.749 Eight Spades are represented on the inside edge of an octagon star on the ‘Golden ceiling’ of the Hagia Sophia southwestern entrance & a few other arches. The blue and light blue is split in the IAω form going into the stem. A divided heart\IAω or rosette lives in a roundel of the star. Four tear shaped layered Alpha(?) drops & four Omega ‘ω’ shaped foliage are in the form of a cross over the entire motif. Near this, in the Narthex is an almost identical motif, Johnson, Dale A. 2012 Barhana Monographs Volume 2, pg73. See Dale Johnson’s book or website http://www.soc-wus.org/2012News/11132012122317.htm 748 Sue’s Trukish Adventures 2012 blog http://suesturkishadventures.com/steeped-in-tolerance/ 749 Mor Gabriel Mosaics https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g780971-d2651171i245183757-Mor_Gabriel_Monastery-Midyat_Mardin_Province.html 746 747 168 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY except the spades, foliage & tear shapes are green.750 Fig. 151- Spades on Golden ceiling. 751 Cropped image credit Brian Jeffery Beggerly 2011 The Coptic (Egyptian, near East) people weren’t without this Spade motif including put a floral/fleur-de-lis inside of it and using on a banded cloth decoration. Technically this item appears to hide the ligature Aw in the red/pinkish space. This fragment with an FDL like motif inside of a spade dates between the 5th-6th century. Fig. 152- Band Fragment w/Botanical Decoration.752 Photo image via Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.753 A Spade motif ca.5-6thC a.d. also done on textile has an interesting look like a torch (flame on a stick(?)) or a spear inside the spade(?) located twice on the side of the garment between a red ‘S’ vignette border. This panel features Dionysiac themes754 of warriors(?) dancing while holding either a spear, double headed axe, a slingshot or other implements. Putting the spade on the spear may indicate the raising of the image off the ground keeping the image as a clean holy reference Fig. 153- Garment decoration Spade/Flame motif.755 Acquired by Henry Walters. Cropped photo credit The Walters Art Museum CCZ/CC0 1.0.756 Hostetler, Brad 2018. Green spades on inner Narthex Hagia Sophia https://www.flickr.com/photos/bradhostetler/29602113397/ 751 Beggerly, Brian Jeffery 2011 photo of SW entrance Hagia Sophia https://www.flickr.com/photos/beggs/6292699831/ 752 Coptic wool Band Fragment 5th-6thC A#15.456 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/9197 753 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) 754 Garment Decoration “Segmentum” w/figures under an Arcade ca5-6thC a.d. A#83.485 https://art.thewalters.org/detail/14323/garment-decoration-segmentum-with-figures-under-an-arcade/ 755 Garment Decoration “Segmentum” w/figures under an Arcade ca5-6thC a.d. A#83.485 https://art.thewalters.org/detail/14323/garment-decoration-segmentum-with-figures-under-an-arcade/ 756 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication CCL https://art.thewalters.org/license/ 750 169 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Another Spade or Inverted Heart on a stand appears on a fragment sleeve (attributed to Egypt) from the 5th – 6th century with an 8-pointed star having an ‘X’ inside. A small club\trefoil motif also sits on a stand twice in between the Aω Spade/Heart and the Star. Fig. 154- Sleeve Fragment 5-6thC.757 Gift of George F. Baker 1890. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.758 The Floor mosaic (donated by Anastasios) depicts the cities of Memphis and Alexandria759 dating to ca.540 a.d has a vertical chevron pointing to the inscription Sleeve Fragment 5th-6thC A#90.5.414 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/443900 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 759 Floor mosaic depicting Memphis and Alexandria ca540 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/478159 757 758 170 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY (from both sides) and within the arrow on both sides is a spade with a triangular fulcrum used to mark with the pointed end also assisting to focus on the text. This was unearthed at Church of Saints Peter & Paul, Gerasa (Jerash) in Jordan. In the same 5th-6thC a Byzantine Gold belt buckle was made (reportedly found in Egypt)760 with a profile of a woman facing left or west. There are 10 blue glass Spades with a gold Patriarchal cross761 (aka Cross of Lorraine) and the four diagonol corners are red and green leaf fleur-de-lis pointing outward. Fig. 155- Buckle with Embossed Head in Profile ca.400-600 Byzantine.762 Grace Rainey Rogers Fund. Photo credit Cleveland Museum of Art CC0 1.0.763 A large single spade image with shaft may occur in the nave mosaic pavement mosaic pavement764 in the 6thC Chapel of Theotokos in Wadi Ayn al-Kanish, Mt. Nebo in Jordan. Another spade/SH motif occurs 8 times on a silver circular Polycandelon (used for lighting) in the mid 6thC and now part of the Sion treasure. Inside the spade there is the typical fleur-de-lis and the top of the spade/SH another scroll ‘S’ shape is formed. This artefact does include the Theodotus style ‘ ’. Most items (Chalice, Cross-shaped Polycandelon, Circular Polycandelon, Procession cross, Paten, Revetment, etc) in this Sion collection have the signature Theodotus ‘ ’ character where text is present - more details of this artefact can be seen at Doaks.765 The ‘ ’ does have a slight alteration to the ‘v’ where an ‘x’ continues through to form the hidden ‘x’ monogram. An interesting note, the ‘ω’ omega is nearly completed closed on the left & right legs to almost form an Inverted Heart as if the ‘W’ is an upper-case form. Reportedly found in Egyptian province https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1948.23 Smith, J.R. 1881. The Reliquary and Illustrated Archaeologist: Vol 22 p231-32 762 Buckle with Embossed Head in Profile Byzantine Egypt(?) 400-600 a.d. https://clevelandart.org/art/1948.23 763 https://www.clevelandart.org/open-access (CC0) https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 764 Hachlili, Rachel, 2009. Ancient Mosaic Pavements: Themes, Issues, and Trends Selected Studies. p.408. 765 Polycandelon lighting mid 6thC http://museum.doaks.org/Obj35130 760 761 171 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A spade is cleverly hidden a few times on the trail end of multiple hearts on a wool Wall Hanging or Curtain fragment766 (ca.6thC) roundel border surrounding a riderless horse. A quatra Scrolled Spade or Heart cross with a five leaf fleur-de-lis encompassing the inside of each spade as a disc openwork decoaration with two cicular hooks (possibly for a belt or necklace) dates 6th-7thC Byzantine.767 The 4 scrolled spades are a cross form where each are side by side inside of a gold disc or filigree like border of beeds. Sometime after 530 a.d, or until the end of the 6thC a two-toned (gold & grey) Spade/Fig motif was created at the Memorial Basillica Church of Moses at Mt. Nebo, Jordan. This is the location where Moses last days were described in ‘moving words’768 via the Book of Deuteronomy 34:1-7. Is the fig/spade motif a reference to the book of Geneses 3:7 ‘Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so, they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves’. The tow-toned color maybe a personification of the fall of man, good and evil, male and female, dual sides of nature (duality) - of the tree of knowledge (good & evil). (Fig. 156) is now a wall mosaic after being lifted from the ground, however another twotone divided fig leaf of gold & black vignette border is still a floor mosaic769 in the Church of Moses. Fig. 156- Mosaic at Moses Basilica, Mt. Nebo, Jordan 5-6thC. Cropped photo credit by flowcomm 2018 CC BY 2.0.770 A Large Coptic embroidered fringed shawl made from the 7th – 8th century has hundreds of small red spades (no fulcrum) pointing mostly east and west with a green Egyptian ankh placed in between the spades in a large consecutive repeating pattern. There are 7 full diamonds and 4 half-diamonds where this pattern stops and a large medallion design is centered in the diamond break. Two diamonds that separate the Walters, Henry Wall Hanging/Curtain Fragment 6thC early Byzantine Egyptian https://art.thewalters.org/detail/1842/wall-hanging-or-curtain-fragment-with-riderless-horse/ 767 Disc w/Openwork Decoration & Beeded Border 6-7thC Byzantine O#67.52.23 https://www.vmfa.museum/piction/6027262-15511832/ 768 Mount Nebo – Memorial of Moses article 2013 https://wonderstourism.com/cities-in-jordan/mount-nebo/ 769 Fig leaf vignette border floor mosaic image https://www.flickr.com/photos/dwaldron/43420573882/ 770 Flowcomm https://www.flickr.com/photos/flowcomm/44151536485/ Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 766 172 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY centered diamond space have a large spade (w/fulcrum) in the break; One pointing east while the other pointing west with some sort of organic blending of the overall motifs shown here. The pattern that creates the diamonds break are made up of the 3 image which repeat: Spade + Spade + Spade, then Ankh + Spade + Ankh, then Spade + Ankh + Spade, and a few other odd comibinations where needed. The center axis across the large diamond breaks has an occasional target (circle w/dot) image and small red spades pointing downward. Sold at Christies in 2003 Lot 282.771 The combination of the Aw Heart and Aw Spade appears in many Coptic motifs as a flower heart shape with a hidden and ω ligature usually offset and distinguishable by a different color inside of the flower. This example below has an obvious over ω ligature found in this child’s tunic dating from 601-700 a.d. which would have been in the Heraclian dynasty. In addition to the pictogram Aw is the IX (Iota Chi) cross represented by the Hearts, Spades and Peafowls in the symbolic shape going across the front intersectting with a cross inside of a roundel with 4 additional hearts. Thirty or so Spades (with fulcrums) align the top of the tunic shoulder to shoulder. Twenty hearts fill in the shape of the ‘I’ + ‘X’ with another border on the bottom of the linen. The sleeve Large Coptic Enbroidered Linen Fringed Shawl ca.7th-8thC a.d. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/alarge-coptic-embroidered-linen-fringed-shawl-4169320-details.aspx 771 173 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY on the arms and the top hem have small roundels of decorative crosses. This beautiful hidden treasure is held at the Art Institute of Chicago. Fig. 157- Child's Tunic 601-700a.d.772 Gift of Martin A. Ryerson to the Antiquarian Society. Photo credit The Art Institute of Chicago CC0 1.0 PDD.773 Built in the 5th century Umm ar-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa’s) Madaba, Jordan has quite a collection of Mosaics mostly created in 785 a.d. Abbasid period774. The largest in the main part of St. Stephen church, a square border around a garden scenary with a border section dedicated to a particular local town name and its building imagery. This Childs Tunic Coptic Egyptian 601-700a.d. R#1914.713 https://www.artic.edu/artworks/70430/child-s-tunic AIC https://www.artic.edu/image-licensing CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 774 Church updated in Abbasid period 8thC a.d. http://www.ichronicle.in/madaba-mosaics-exhibit-pristineart-form-jordan/ 772 773 174 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY garden has many grape bunches over then entire mosaic with only two spade leafs on either side of the mosaic centered in a roundel.775 To the right of the ‘Mosaic of Square Tower’ there are squares with fruit trees & birds and the roundels have a Blue/Brown fig leaf and date palm motifs.776 Above the mosaic describing the towns, another smaller square of dedications(?) has 2 two-tone spades on each side of the squre totaling 8.777 The mosaic altar floor778 located outdoors is referred to as the ‘Church of the Lions’ which 4 large black spades corner of the spade motif. with 3 small brown figs in each The Church of the Virgin Mary constructed779 late 6th/Early 7th Century (restored 767 a.d.)780 at Hipplytus Hall, Madaba, Jordan has one of the (as same divided Golden-Black spades Umm ar-Rasas) with a smaller stem barely visible including an added striped white line down the middle. Another new style is this striped line spade across the entire image. This is circling an 8-pointed star with an inscription dedicated to Mary – “If you want to look at Mary, the virginal Mother of God, and to Christ whom she generated, Universal King, only Son of the only God, purify [your] mind, flesh and works! May you purify with [your] prayer the people of God.”781 Fig. 158- Spades at Virgin Mary church, Madaba, Jordan. Cropped photo credit by Ankur P 2018 CC BY 2.0.782 St. Stephens church large mosaic photo http://www.netours.com/content/view/278/30/ Birds, Fruit and Palm motifs @ St. Stephen Umm ar-Rasas, Jordan http://www.art-andarchaeology.com/jordan/rasas/ra02.html 777 Umm Er Rasas possibly earlier mosaic. See photo https://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanpickett/8386336364/ 778 Altrr Floor mosaic at Umm Ar-Rasas https://atlastours.net/jordan/umm-ar-rasas/ 779 Main pavement timeline Michele Piccirillo 1993 https://universes.art/en/artdestinations/jordan/madaba/archaeological-park-1/church-of-virgin-mary-2 780 Virgin Mary Madaba, Jordan. Mosaic floor dates to 767 a.d. http://www.khammash.com/projects/church-virgin-mary 781 Piccirillo, Michele 1993. American Center of Oriental Research, Amman, Jordan, p65 782 Ankur P Madaba Archaelogical Park 2018 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ankurp/44106870510/ Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 775 776 175 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A 7th – 9thC samit textile in red, black, and blue silk has 4 roundels of black colored hearts made in the shape of a cross. TheMet describes this as a Guilloche Lattice pattern with a Pinecone(?). Well, I found another image almost identical with the little round pellets inside of the so-called pinecone and it’s an Inverted Heart or Spade motif located in another museum (MAA) on another Coptic Byzantine fragment.783 Turn the image right side up with the fulcrum below and it becomes a better image. This Guilloche Lattice actually appears as an ‘S’ vine motif. Fig. 159- Guilloche Lattice with Pinecone(?) 7-9thC.784 Gift of Nanette B. Kelekian, in honor of Nobuko Kajitani 2002. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.785 In the Byzantine Psalter MS Grec 20 folio 17/40v (view 24) has 2 faint images of spades (both in a bronze color) however so small, both spades appear like a floating spear tip in the background786. The other spade near the halo of a roman dressed warrior saint Phinehas (priest in book of Exodus) appears the typical IH with a string stem attached. This psalter dates to the 2nd half of the 9thC. See the entire BNF MS 20 albeit in B&W. Spade or IH pattern with small pellets attached to a cross which is inside an 8-pointed star http://collections.imm.hu/gyujtemeny/fabric-fragment/17171 784 Guilloche Lattice w/Pinecone(?0 7th – 9th C A#2002.239.27 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/170015331 785 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 786 Byzantine Psalter Bnf MS Grec 20 http://warfare.ga/6-10/Byzantine_Psalter-Grec_20.htm 783 176 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Great works of Art were created due to the renaissance created under Charlemagne (r.748-814). The so-called comb of St. Heribert ca.850-900 made of ivory shows the crucifixion scene of Christ and in the top left and top right corner is a vignette of plant foliage in which it has created a Spade with the possible representation of a Lambda ‘Λ’ or Alpha (minus-crossbar) over omega ‘ω’ over the back of an Angel on each side. The Spade is a leaf stemmed from part of the vine attached to both sides of the artifact. Fig. 160- Spade on comb of St. Heribert ca.850-900.787 Cropped Illustr’d from Schunutgen Museum. The Bursa Reliquary ‘Ivory’ box has multiple motifs covering it, including the primary image of four roundels and within those 4 spades the legs become scrolled into a fleurde-lis cross. All four spades connect at the cardinal points with a small pellet blended into a cross. This 10thC Northern Italian artefact shape derives from the same items that were used to carry saints’ relics.788 The Harbaville Triptych, a 3-piece box panel made of Ivory dates to the mid 10thC during the reign of Romanos II crowned in 959.789 In the very center of the main larger panel and border with 17 spades pointing north then south pattern alternating. In the Spade is a fleur-de-lis ivy leaf cross also following direction from its host. On the top and bottom the panel box there 6 full spades with internal fdl’s following the same pattern. An interesting find is on the thrown790 columns of Christ has a carved motif of interlocking arms over top while the arrow it tucked under like so . Also, in this same time period around 955-960 the so-called Limburg Staurotheke ‘reliquary true cross container’791 lid has enamel images Christ Pantocrator sitting on a thrown of which the left and right back support has 2 white Spades outlined in blue with a Sampi letter shape of red with a green triad spear tip attached (combined fleur- So-called St. Heribert comb ca.8500-900 http://www.museumschnuetgen.de/foto.aspx?bid=270&w=997&h=650 788 Bursa Reliquary 10thC Northern Italian A#53.19.2 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/471454 789 Harbaville triptych mid 10thC https://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/harbaville-triptych 790 Thrown of Christ motif found under photo enlargement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbaville_Triptych#/media/File:Triptych_Harbaville_Louvre_OA3247_n2.jpg 791 Staurothek Pantokrator on Limburg ture cross container 950-960.a.d https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LM_Staurothek_Pantokrator.JPG 787 177 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY de-lis?) inside the Spade . Part of the inscription mentions Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (son of Leo VI) and Romanos II.792 The Spade motif also occurs frequently in the Menologian of Basil ms 1613 ca.1000-25 on the following folios f141(cornice of bldg. 5x), f232 (skinny spades(?), f233 (walls of a building 10x), f281 (spade or AAST? on emperor), f318 (2 pink on bldg.), and I stopped reviewing the ms. Fig. 161- Spade with cross-Club (trefoil) inset ca.10th-11thC. Repainted from pendant example with Cloisonné-technique.793 In the enamel described here, it is part of the white imagery that makes up a fleur-de-lis or trefoil cross combined to make a holy motif. The Solomon enamel (ca.11thC) located in St. Marks treasure in Venice which was designed in the Double-Arrow/Heart-Arrow motif has one single perfect Spade under the collar of Solomon. Is this possibly due to a mistake on the arrow? The Solomon robe also has white tear marks following the lines and borders generally pointing upwards. A great example of a Spade occurs on folio 23r in the Marian Homilies vat.gr.1162 Illumination made by Jakobus Kokkinobaphos in Constantinople around the 1st half of 12thC.794 Another enamel Spade(4x) cornered as an emerald green cross is very similar to (Fig. 161) except this disc ‘Townley Brooch’ has an inset more like a fleur-de-lis arms than a trefoil. Each spade has 2 small legs with a gold ‘v’ protruding from the bottom under the FDL. This item located in the BM M#OA.4821 is supposedly dated ca.975-1025 and is either Ottonian or Byzantine in cultural reference795.178 In the alter paneling of the Pala D’Ora, Venice a gold panel of a Bishop holds hold a bible with 4 large spades pointing outward (on each corner) with a stem for the fulcrum. The Bishop is located on the 2nd row above the bottom on the west side of Christ. This artefact dates to 1071/1081 or 1105. Ibid, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_Staurotheke https://www.gmcoinart.de/auction/SCHMUCK_Goldanh%C3%A4nger%20in%20Cloisonn%C3%A9Technik.aspx? https://www.gmcoinart.de/templates/images/muenzen/00108/01074q01.jpg 794 Marian Homilies Vat.Gr.1162 https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.1162 795 Townley disc Brooch ca.975-1025 https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=51131 &partId=1&people=98208&peoA=98208-3-17 792 793 178 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The Divided Spade The Spade Fig Leaf showing 2 colors divided with/without a fulcrum occurs in many Jordanian and Holy land area mosaics before the 7th century. The question comes up, if these Spade/Inverted Heart images by themselves or not associated with another part of the mosaic, then why a Fig leaf and split in half with two toned shading? In my opinion they are intentionally hiding the Ineffable name of Yaω in the form of a cleverly hidden monogram transposed over a beautiful pictogram fig leaf. See (Fig. 156) as a 5th – 6th century church with the two-toned shaded Spade. Sites of the IAω or Divided Spade: -Shalom Al Yisrael Synagogue796 dating 6th-7th century mosaic representing a Blue & Gold spade. -St. Stephen church, Umm ar-Rasas797 built ~785 a.d. mosaics representing a Black & Gold spades with sides alternating colors. -Moses Basilica, Mt. Nebo, Jordan 5-6th century mosaic798 representing a Gold & Greyish spade. -Mor Gabriel, Midyat, Turkey ceiling mosaic799 (Fig. 150) ca.6thC representing a light Green and darker Green colors alternating sides & pointing toward the center of the ceiling. An interesting visual is the Grape vine leaves were also done in this same 2toned shading similar to the IAw monogram style800. Image of Shalom Al Yisrael mosaic http://www.jewishjericho.org.il/english/places/shalomalyisrael.html St. Stephens church large mosaic photo http://www.netours.com/content/view/278/30/ 798 Flowcomm Mt. Nebo, Jordan https://www.flickr.com/photos/flowcomm/44151536485/ 799 Mor Gabriel monastery images https://www.yollardan.com/mor-gabriel-manastiri-deyrulumur-midyatmardin/ 800 2-toned grape leaves similar to IAw/Spade/InvertedHeart style http://barnabydoesistanbul.blogspot.com/2012/03/suryani-winemaking-in-mardin.html 796 797 179 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Spade Cross The Spade or Fig leaf cross is another spin-off using the heart motif. The Spade typically may point outward from the cross shape than inwards as seen on Heart cross motifs. A 6th century Byzantine bronze lamp with a single spade IH motif and the cross centered inside. Peacock’s heads facing away from each other wrapped as part of the curled ‘ω’ omega, the cross as part of the ‘I’ and ‘A’ the outter spade edge being the ‘A’ or ‘Λ’. Fig. 162 - Lamp 6th century Byzantine.801 Fletcher Fund 1947. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.802 This 10th-11th century cloisonné technique example below also has Christ with nimbus (green halo of gold trim) on the reverse holding a bible in a blessing gesture and inscription IC + XC on each side of his image. This pendant motif is described as a “four-petalled cruciform flower”803. Fig. 163- Spade with Club-cross (trefoil) inset ca.10th-11thC. Author Illustr’d from pendant example with Cloisonné-technique.804 Lamp 6thC Byzantine A#47.100.43 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468205 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 803 Gmcoinart.de translation from German as “four-petalled cruciform flower” or secondary site https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=2352&category=46671&lot=1988550 804 https://www.gmcoinart.de/auction/SCHMUCK_Goldanh%C3%A4nger%20in%20Cloisonn%C3%A9Technik.aspx? https://www.gmcoinart.de/templates/images/muenzen/00108/01074q01.jpg 801 802 180 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Spades in Administration In the Notitia Dignitatum (lat. “List of Offices”) understood to have been created in the early 5th century to record governmental positions between both halves of the Roman Empire. The Prefectvs Avgvstalis (praefectus Augustalis) has 6 provinces and all of them appearing to be positioned by haloed women. Two of the women, one from Lybya (Libia) Inferior and the other from Arcadia have administrative crowns of spades. Although this image was copied & produced in 1436 by Peronet Lamy in Basel Switzerland (border of France) from a Carolingian “Codex Spirensis” Cathedral Library of Speyer805 volume deriving from late antiquity many believe the illuminated image replications are true to the original due to keeping of Greek inscriptions. The Praefectus Augustalis diocese was abolished in 539 (Kelly 2009, 78).806 Fig. 164- Praefectus Augustalis Lybia and Arcadia provinces f109v. Author Ilustr’d from MS Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.807 The insignia for the Vicarivs Diocesios Asianae all women for the 8 provinces is all again haloed with Lydia, Lycia, Pisida, Frygia Pacatiana all having the similar spaded crown.808 The insignia for the Vicarivs Diocesios Ponticae all haloed women for the 11 provinces and has their various crowns, but Galatia and Armenia Prima having a similar spaded crown. Armenia is actually more like an arrow shaped inverted heart.809 Many of the other provinces have Greco based geometric and natural foliage motifs. Some of the six provinces of Vicarivs Diceseos Thraciarvm (Thrace) created in the turn of the MS. Canon. Misc. 378 Notitia dignatatum Basel, Switzerland 1436 https://medieval.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/catalog/manuscript_3405 806 Kelly, Christopher 2009. Ruling the Later Roman Empire p78 807 Bodleian Library ms378 fol109v https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/inquire/p/0f40016e-f013-4d1a-8136fb1013279464 808 Ibid, Bodleian Library ms378 fol110v Vicarivs Diocesios Asianae provinces 809 Ibid, Bodleian Library ms378 fol111v Vicarivs Diocesios Ponticae provinces 805 181 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY 4th century810 have some uniquely unusual crowns.811 Europa has three pelta shaped mushroom like crown from a blonde-haired admin, while Rhodopa (Rodope mountains etc..) has a ‘Thor Hammer’ likeness in the shape of a ‘T’ which divides two brown horns(?), Moesia secunda (lower Danube) has three feathers sticking up, presumably from the dark figured eagle in her basket, Haemimontus has 3 brown horns(?) above the blondish haired admin. Was the Rodope mountains district/province once the headquarters for Europa? The last section of insignia women is the Vicarii Septem Provinciarvm has 17 provinces of which 8 (Germaniae primae, Germaniae secundae, Belgicae primae, Belgica secundae, Alpium maritimarum, Narbonensus secundae, Lugdunensis secundae, and Lugdunensis tertia) are crowned with a collection of around ~6 long stemmed spades each. The others have an alternate 6 geometric squares on end as an administrative crown. So, is 5th century NouvaRoma administration taking a page from the early Christian frescoes ca.230-240 a.d. (Catacomb of Priscilla of Rome)812 & bringing back female priesthood who were painted in the 3rd century? A Roman native hamlet Shahba, Syria (Philippopolis) for emperor Philip the Arab had a mosaic constructed between 242 and 249 a.d. depicting Aphroditie and Ares813 (Judgement of Paris) in which it appears the female Roman Administrative sponsor (of CKOΠH814 =Skoppe/Shahba?)probably of Damascus is in the top right corner of the mosaic holding a long stem leafy brown spade while resting & reviewing the scene. Maybe the last image of Admininstration Spades from the 6th-8th century are found occurring on a fresco image in the Theodotus chapel Santa Maria Antiqua, Rome ca.741-752 ‘curtain’ below the Madonna & child with Church Leadership scene called the ‘Primicerius’ of Theodotus which was the “Latin term primecerius, Hellenized as primikerios (πριμικήριος)” (Gallagher 2016)815, the title used for the heads of admininstrative departments & church positions. Notice the X & O’s motif? Fig. 165- St. Maria Antiqua, Rome curtain 741-752 a.d. Author Illustr'n from Gallagher & StefanoRomeTours 2016.816 Wiewiorowski, Jacek 2007/2011. Byzantine Thrace Evidence & Remains. p385 Jacek, cites Porena 2003: 339-562, with the discussion concerning the date of introduction of the divided prefectures & comprehensive bibliography. Coskun 2003 discusses in detail the case of Illyricum. 811 Ibid, Bodleian Library ms378 fol112v Vicarivs Diocesios Thraciarvm provinces 812 Early Christian 230-240a.d. frescoes in Rome hint to female priests https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2510473/Vatican-unveils-frescoes-Catacombs-Priscillapaintings-FEMALE-PRIESTS.html 813 Shahba/Philippopolis https://howlingpixel.com/i-en/Shahba 814 CKOΠH name clearly visible http://southern-damascus.blogspot.com/2007/06/suweida-shahbaqanawat.html 815 Gallagher, George 2016 term Primicerius https://www.flickr.com/photos/re_teacher/28367745712/ 816 Gallagher, George 2016 https://www.flickr.com/photos/re_teacher/28367745712/ StefanoTome Tours https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBkLveJ6lXU 810 182 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A beautiful example of the Inverted Hearts and Spades motif with Emperor Nicephoros Botaniates who reigned from (1078-81). Illumination of John Chrysostome, Homelies MS Coislin 79 f9 2r.817 Is this an attempt from a long break to put golden Spades or Hearts back into the symbolism of Administration? Fig. 166- Emperor Nicephoros Botaniates enthroned ca.1078-81. Illustr’n from J H Middleton 1892.818 MS Coislin 79 folio9 2r ca.1071-81 BNF https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8470047d/f9.item Middleton, J H 1892. Illuminated manuscripts in classical and mediaeval times: their art and their technique. Pg 60. 817 818 183 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The Cape Mantle Another find in this geographical area is the flowing (wind-blown) ‘Paludamentum’, ‘Pallium’, ‘Cape’, ‘small cloak’ or ‘mantle’ presented on hunters, warriors, hero’s and later saints. While many of these scenes do have the common Roman Paludamentum simply hanging from the shoulder, however the “winded/flowing” cape is meant to show action (renowned(?), immortality(?), extraordinary, muthos(?), riding, fighting, magical, powerful and a rank or status symbol from the character in the artefact. The earliest cape maybe the ones used by the Sem Priests of Ancient Egypt before 1279 b.c. who would wear Leopard skin capes around their shoulders and sometimes hanging from back to front as found on the wall of the tomb of Seti I and in Book of the Dead819 illuminations. The Sem/Setem priests of the pratron god Ptah considered the feline scared in connection with Heliopolitan cult who wore these pelts in association with burial rituals.820 In the time of Elijah, a prophet of Yahweh who lived during the reigns of Ahab (ca.869850 b.c) & Ahaziah (ca.850-849 b.c) mentions in Kings 2:13-15 Elisha receiving Elijahs mantle821. The Mantle is imbued with power as Elisha strikes(smotes & smitten) the water (with Elijah’s mantle) of the Jordan, the water parts(hither and thither), so Elisha went over across the river. There are many inferences to the mantles purpose in the bible822 with some being symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Many of these Attic painters after 525 b.c. show Men with a stylized cape, Amazons with flowing capes, Satyrs, Centaurs and Heracles with pelted capes. In some of the early Greek Archaic period 525-520 b.c., the heroes Achilles and Ajax have been painted by Andokides and Lysippides with finely adorned cloaks flat over their back armor, yet not flowing in the wind.823 Prior to 520 b.c. the Centaur would have multitiered fur-branch (sometimes trident ‘v’ shaped, or corn-stalk shaped)824 hanging over their shoulder instead of the pelted cape. A single applique for the mythological monster Skylla/Scylla825 also has a cape flowing up and over the left side of its shoulder created around 300-275 b.c. My theory is the Cape was a personification of a winged deities so that a non-deity human could be endowed with the magic or abilities like Parson, Marie ‘The Opening of the Mouth Ritual’ https://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/open.htm Balaji, Anand. May 2018 Sem Priests of Ancient Egypt: Their role & Impact in Funerary contexts https://www.ancient-origins.net/history/sem-priests-ancient-egypt-their-role-and-impact-funerary-contextspart-0010007 821 Durken, Daniel. 2017. New Collegeville Bible Commentary: One Vol. p328 822 What is mantle in the Bible? https://www.gotquestions.org/mantle-Bible.html 823 Two-handles jar (amphora) w/Achilles and Ajaz 525-520 b.c A#01.8037 https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/two-handled-jar-amphora-with-achilles-and-ajax-153408 824 Beazley, J.D. 1986. The Development of the Attic-Black-Figure. Plate 27, Plate 5, Plate 43 825 Skylla Applique, Greek, South Italy(?) ca 300-275 b.c. O#96.am.111.2 http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/29580/unknown-maker-skylla-applique-greek-about-300-275bc/ 819 820 184 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY that of a winged god. Some have suggested the cape/cloak is from the ancient Celtic, however if you view an artifact from the 1st-3rdC Romano-British826 it appears the cape is a full hooded cloak or long coat from head to toe, not the image representing by a flowing cape ‘in action’. While this early cape isn’t used on horseback, hunting or war, it’s an early version of the ‘Pelted Cape’ used in an arrest scene. A Red figure ‘Berlin’ painter hydria827 ca.490 b.c. from Italy shows a scene of Heracles seizing Nereus (an old sea god living w/Nereids)828. Heracles is wearing a full spotted lions pelt with his head coming out of the mouth of the lion (shown with teeth). The Lions intact fur extends all the way down Heracles back with two legs of the lion swinging off to the sides, the lion’s tail straight and away from the rear. Herodotus, a historian living from 484–425 b.c. mentions cloaks several times in his accounting of various cultures. “The Caspians wear clad in cloaks of skin,”. “The Pactyans wore cloaks of skin,”. “The Arabians wore the zeira, or long cloak, fastened about them with a girdle”.829 Thurium 443-427 b.c., Herodotus writes both men and women “wore an outer garment, either the himation or cloak, or else the chlamys, or scarf”. 830 The himation and the chlamys were made of woolen. Halicarnassus 464 b.c., Herodotus writes, “a gay chlamys to wear at festivals”.831 Samos 464-461 b.c., Herodotus writes, “Syloson was walking the streets of Memphis, arrayed in a scarlet cloak”.832 Sparta 460 b.c., Herodotus writes, “Gold, Silver, brass, beautifully died cloaks and shawls, etc..”,.. “you may have in great abundance if you choose to take them”.833 Scythia 459 b.c., Herodotus writes, the Scythians were ferocious during their wars and used many parts of their conquered, including “the more ingenious warriors, made Statuette Hooded figure A#2001.719 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/474316? Hydria – Heracles seizes Nereus 490b.c. British Museum M#1843,1103.47 https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=39914 0 828 Hornblower,Simon.Spawforth,Antony.Eidinow,Esther. 2012 The Oxford Classical Dictionary p1009. 829 Rawlinson, George. 1875. History of Herodotus Vol IV pp63-64 830 Wheeler, James T 1856. The Life and Travels of Herodotus in the Fifth Century: Before Christ:…p.21 831 Ibid, Wheeler, James T 1856. p.59 832 Ibid, Wheeler, James T 1856. p.74 833 Ibid, Wheeler, James T 1856. p.178 826 827 185 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY mantles of the scalps, by sewing them together”834 in the same way Greek shepherds would sew together garment hides. Thrace 459 b.c., Herodotus writes, while in Athens “he saw a party of foreigners (Doloncians) marching along the street, attired in long cloaks of various colors, and carrying javelins and light bucklers”.835 Ethiopia 454 b.c., Herodotus writes, the Persian embassy arrives in Ethiopia with a purple cloak and the king of Ethiopia is questioning “what it was made”, “and how it was made” and the envoys explained the whole process of purple dyeing”, and the king responds with a Solomon like rebuttal “Deceitful are the men, and deceitful likewise are their garments”.836 I found many early references of an artistic capes of action. a. A marble relief sculpture from the west frieze837 of the Parthenon has a Panathenaic festival for the birthday of the goddess Athena ca.438-432 b.c. The fragment block has two horsemen both reigning up on the back legs with the front horsemen wearing only his cloak looks behind as he raises his left arm and the second horseman wearing a chlamys only at his waist. The Bassai Sculptures or Phigaleian Frieze (ca.420-400 b.c.) contains older images of both a caped man warrior and a caped centaur fighting but is partially damaged.838 The ‘Rider cup’ was done by Onesimos ca.500-490b.c in which he has painted a young male on horseback holding 2 spears in his right hand with a fibulae pinned on his right shoulder for a cape barely flowing in the wind as the horse appears to be trotting slowly to a destination.839 An even older Grecian cup (ca.540-520b.c) shows a scene of a panther chasing a youth who has a triangular shaped cloak and about to turn and throw a stone at the running panther.840 An Etruscan stele841 ca.420-300 b.c. shows a warrior with a large round shield engraved Ibid, Wheeler, James T 1856. p.420 Ibid, Wheeler, James T 1856. p.399 836 Ibid, Wheeler, James T 1856. p.217 837 The Parthenon Sculptures British Museum 438-432 b.c. M#1816,0610.47 https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?assetId=1986480 01&objectId=461665 838 British Museum #1815,1020.1 The Bassai Sculptures / The Phigaleian Frieze found at Temple of Apollo 839 Rider on Interior of Attic red-figured cup ca500-490b.c. A#G 105 Louvre Museum, Paris, France https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Euphronios_0001,_Rider_Louvre_G105.jpg 840 British Museum ‘band cup’ M#1891,0806.84+ ca540b.c-520b.c found at Mariion-Arsinoe 841 Etruscan stele no.80 ca420-300b.c. Museo Civico, Bologna https://www.heritageimages.com/preview/2668092 834 835 186 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY with a trident like image to his left side, while his right hand is holding a spear. A cape from his neck is rippled & flowing over the outside edge of the large round shield. The Argos/Argolis Head of Hera drachm coin ca.400-322 b.c. has Diomedes on the reverse wearing a Chlamys walking cautiously while the cape flows over his back and arms. Fig. 167- Drachm coin with Diomedes ca.400-322b.c. Illustr'n credit Ward & Hill 1902.842 Others Cloaks on Coins: A Pheneos Arkadian stater coin ca.360-350 b.c. of Demeter and Hermes ‘nude’ only wearing a cloak while both his arm and cloak hold an infant ‘Arkas’ on his right hand holding ‘lerykeoin’ staff.843 An Ainianes Thessaly hemidrachm coin ca.350 b.c. shows the Hero Phemios nude with a cloak over his left arms while holding a rounded shield.844 b. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus or Tomb of ‘Mausolus’ built between 353 and 350 b.c. near present day Bodrum, Turkey.845 A stone relief of Amazonomachy from mausoleum show the Greeks ‘men’ fighting a battle with the Amazons ‘women’ of which most of the Amazons (Scythians846(?)) have a winded cape, while a few of the Greek men also have a winded mantle too. It almost appears as though their robes are lavishly being separating and flung over their shoulders during the fighting, rather than attached by a fibula from their necks as if part of the costume. A grave stele ca.390 b.c. of a warrior with cone shaped helmet is holding a recently drawn dagger in his right hand while holding the scabbard(?) in his left hand is climbing Ward, John. Hill, George Frances 1902. Greek coins and their parent cities. Plate XIV. Notable Greek Heroes http://ancientcoinage.org/other-notable-greek-heroes.html 844 Notable Greek Heroes http://ancientcoinage.org/other-notable-greek-heroes.html 845 Amazon Frieze on Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Turkey held at British Museum https://www.bmimages.com/results.asp?searchtxtkeys=the%20amazon%20frieze https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mausoleum_at_Halicarnassus 846 Nat Geo’s 2014 article by Simon Worrall describes Adrienne Mayor’s research the Amazon women warriors were Scythians https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141029-amazons-scythianshunger-games-herodotus-ice-princess-tattoo-cannabis/ 842 843 187 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY a set of rock stairs(?) while his cape is flowing just off his back and right shoulder. Found at Boeotia, Greece.847 On a Greek Krater ca.360-340 b.c., Kadmos holds a hydria of water and rock in his right throwing arm to confront the Drakon (large snake) of the Ismenian spring near Thebes while wearing only a helm and cape with black border of white dots.848 The DeRverni Krater (of bronze) found in a grave of the National Road from Thessaloniki to Langada dates to the period around 330-320 b.c.849 On the main body of the krater Silenus850 (companion & tutor of Dionysus)851 naked, all but a 3-4’ ft Cape tied from the front of the neck with ‘X’ shaped loose ends remain. The cape appears to flow in the wind just over his back and arms, whipped out away from his buttocks. Silenus is watching a dance scene in ecstasy by two maenads holding a goat, and a third one of them holding a naked child over her shoulder. Dionysus naked with his leg over the knee of Ariadne (Cretan princess)852 ‘holding her vail’ both seated at their sacred wedding while Pentheus (king of Thebes?) dressed ‘like a hunter’ with sheathed sword and holding spear up walking to the dance. Above the body and below the rim of the krater are about a dozen Ivy heart like shaped leaves vignette around. Eros is found caped(?) riding a goat or sitting on a goat as it lays on the ground with its knees bent, while Eros is smiling as if in playful mood. This 3rdC b.c. Hellenistic Cypriot figurine is not on view, but is found at the Met online.853 c. In the Roman Republic a called the Uncia (ca.240 b.c.) has a Female head (Roma?) wearing a Phrygian-shaped helmet ornamented with a gryphons (Griffin) head, and with a visor, a large pellet (Sun disc or shield?) behind the helm and a V below the head. The reverse has a Horseman, one of the Dioscuri charging with spear Grave stele of warrior, Boeotia, Greece c390 b.c #1970.82 https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1970.82? Cadmus & the Dragon Musee du Louve, Paris ca.360-340 b.c. https://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvrenotices/paestan-red-figure-calyx-krater https://www.louvre.fr/en/mediaimages/cratere-en-calice-figuresrouges-11 849 Grammenos, D.V. 2004 Thessaloniki museum ebook p279-306 http://www.latsisfoundation.org/eng/electronic-library/the-museum-cycle/the-archaeological-museum-of-thessaloniki 850 Grammenos, D.V. 2004. Ebook of Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki http://www.latsisfoundation.org/eng/electronic-library/the-museum-cycle/the-archaeological-museum-of-thessaloniki p294,296. 851 Silenus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silenus 852 Cretan princess daughter of Minos king of Crete https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariadne 853 Eros riding a goat 3rdc b.c. or later A#74.51..1599 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/241155 847 848 188 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY propped on leg with another ‘shield/sun disc’ behind the horse and a ‘T’ below with ‘ROMA’ inscribed in space below ground. Fig. 168- Caped Horseman w/Spear ~ca240b.c. Illustr’n credit by H.A.Grueber 1910.854 About this same period of the 3rdC b.c. Demetrios I of Bactrian, a Hellinistic-Greek king reigned 200-180 b.c. of Gandhara an area of Pakistan and Afgjanistan which was ancient India. Many of his coin’s show him wearing an Elephant helmet or an elephant head, including a bronze statuette of him as a rider with the full pelta cape of an elephant, which is held at MMoA855. d. In Xinjiang, China (Sampul, east of city Hotan) a Greco-Chinese textile called the “Sampul Tapestry” a residual cloth (ca.300 bce-100ce)856 has the top portion of the fabric with a half-man half-horse galloping through a roundel of 12 quatrefoil hearts rosettes either pink or white with an intersecting dot centered. The Manhorse (Greek Centaur) has a reversed ‘Ƨ’ behind his head with a mantled cape857 flowing in the wind from his ride while playing a long horn. One piece of the cape extends from the middle and additional ~2 feet behind and partially tattered tail on the end is actually a shoulder to tail length animal (leopard or lion pelt) skinned cape858. The bottom half of the has an image of a black haired, blue-eyed man wearing a diadem ‘head band’, holding a spear upright on his right shoulder with a blue, red and yellow rosette covered tunic, possibly created during the establishment of the Seleucid Empire during Alexander the Great of Macedon. Female centaurs were also presented with capes in a 3rd-2nd C b.c. Etruscan urn from Montepulciano, Poggio (located above Rome).859 Also located on the Urn was a Gordon (Gorgon?) head with a quatrefoil petaled flower under the alter/bench where the centaur have the front legs propped. Grueber, H.A. 1910. Coins of The Roman Republic In The British Museum Vol.ii, p187. Bronze statuette of rider wearing an elephant skin 3rdC b.c. A#55.11.11 https://metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/254825 856 Woolen cloth with a man’s head and horses’ body 300bce-100ce Xinjiang Museum http://masterpieces.asemus.museum/masterpiece/detail.nhn?objectId=12628 857 Lloyd, Ellen Nov 2018. Sampul Tapestry: Mysterious Silk Road Textile linked to Hellenistic Kingdoms of Central Asia & Tarim Basin http://www.ancientpages.com/2018/11/21/sampul-tapestry-mysterious-silk-roadtextile-linked-to-hellenistic-kingdoms-of-central-asia-and-tarim-basin/ 858 Animal cape identified by British Museum M#1870,0710.2 ca.350-340b.c calyx-krater whereby the Centaur has a spotted lion or leopard skin pelt/cape attached to the neck https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gal lery.aspx?partid=1&assetid=285297001&objectid=463164 859 Etruscan gravestone with 2 female centaurs 3-2ndC b,c, Poggio, Italy https://www.123rf.com/stockphoto/etruscan_alabaster_urns_montepulciano_poggio.html?&sti=mbfs5thd2q9scya34d|&mediapopup=9 129940 854 855 189 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY By the time the 1st and 2nd centuries come around many figures star to have Cape brooch attachments860 like the roman goddess Diana (=Greek goddess Artemis)861 of the hunt, the moon, and nature associated with wild animals in woodlands. e. In the Dura-Europas complex located on the Euphrates river was a Roman city (in Syria) in the 3rd century. It was conquered by Sasanian invaders by 256 a.d and buried. A dedication to Mithras (originally an Iranian god) by Roman soldiers via an inscription dated 168-169 a.d, then later the Mithraeum building was enlarged by 209-11 (Hendrix 2016). In this building Mithras is slaying the Cosmic Bull of which Mithra’s cape is outstretched flowing in the wind. The Mithras Hunting scenes on both sides of this alter “are particularly Iranian in characters and display an Eastern sensibility” (Rostovtzeff 1920’s).862 The inscription on the tabula ansata from the rebuild of Mithraeum was written in Latin and dedicated by Antonio Valentino by 211 a.d. (Gilliam 1952).863 The side hunting scene also has Mithras cape although partially broken away showing the red ochre crease lines of the flowing cape.864 A 3rd century Coptic tunic border textile865 ca.200-300 a.d. has in each corner a quatrefoil diamond (brown, outlined in beige) with only 2 of the four now present. A center medallion has two riders (haloed?) and at least one of them has a Cape flowing below his arms as he is about to throw a rock. The ‘Smirat’ Tunisian Roman village mosaic from the 3rd century located in Northern Africa shows scenes of four hunters fighting four named leopards.866 The possible owner of the mosaic bath was named Magerius who is wearing a cape flowing in the wind and beside him, his name is written in Latin as ‘Mageri’. Dionysus (tamer of wild beasts?) and Diana (the huntress)867 are in the scene unnamed, but Dionysus (or Bacchus?) is holding a bident staff with an inverted omega like shape atop with a black heart shaped ivy leaf & vine cut trailing the name Mageri. Heracles is supposedly the “tamer of wild beasts” (Sacks 2014, 59).868 Brooch w/Diana caped in a chariot drawn by two bulls. Roman 100-300 a.d. http://www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk/en/collections/work/H2195 861 Greek Gods and Goddesses 2014 Britannica Educational Publishing chapter 4 862 Dura Mithraeum exhibit Yale University http://www.thebyzantinelegacy.com/dura-mithraeum 863 Gilliam, J.F. 1952. The Dolicheneum, II: Inscriptions", Yale 1952, No. 970 and Pl. XIX, 1; P. Merlat in RA XLIII, 1954, 184. 864 Photograph of Mithras taken from Yale field archeologist and photograph from Yale Univ Art Museum http://users.stlcc.edu/mfuller/DuraMithrasArt.html 865 Chelsea Art Museum exhibit Italian 2009 http://www.textileasart.com/coptic-textiles-2258.htm 866 The Magerius Mosaic" Issue 25. Current Archaeology. October 3, 2007 867 Museum of Sousse http://www.soussemuseum.tn/les-mosaiques/?lang=en# 868 Sacks, Kenneth S 2014. Diodorus Siculus and the First Century. p59-60. Emphasis on Heracles as tamer of wild beasts. 860 190 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A Roman early Christian two-sided gold pendant ‘probably from Gaul or Northern Italy’869 made abt 350 a.d. has one side with a hunter on horseback attaching a boar and the hunter has his hand and arm up as if he is holding a missing spear. The boar also appears to have surprised the hunter and the horse is jumping over the boar. The interesting thing about this item, is the background is in Niello (a blackish-grey color) and within the scenery it appears there is a small full moon with a cut crescent shape floating in the sky behind the hunter – so I believe this a nighttime scene870 for boar hunting. The other side has 2 cupids of which one of them is dropping a heart-shaped bundle of grapes in a basket and it also appears this was meant for nighttime activities due to both winged cupids are mostly naked and one male has lifted his cape or robe from the front. A Red cape attached to the neck of Loaocoon as 2 serpents (from the sea) attack him and his sons. This scene is located in the Vatican Vergil / Vergilius Vaticanus lat.3225 folios 17r,18v, and 19r.871 The Vatican Vergil was produced in Rome a few decades before the sack of 410 a.d.872 Fig. 169- Goblet personifying 4 Byzantine Cities 700's.873 Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.874 A Coptic curtain panel fragment ca.5thC hanging has the imagery of two horseman consecutively repeating a hunt scene with a thin red cape flowing under their shoulders behind over the horse’s rear end. The first hunter on horseback carrying a stone ready Roman early Christian period plaque/pendant A#1972.81 abt ~350a.d https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/two-sided-plaque-or-pendant-262244 870 Boar hunting techniques. Boars are most active in late evening or early morning, boar movement affected by Solunar calendar. https://www.besthuntingtimes.com/wild-hog/ 871 Vergilius Vaticanus lat 3225 https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.lat.3225 872 Wright, David Herndon 1993. The Vatican Vergil: A Masterpiece of Late Antique Art, pg3. 873 Golden Goblet - Avars or Byzantine 700’s A#17.190.1710 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464119 874 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 869 191 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY to throw, while his dog below runs alongside. The second horseman carrying a bow unloaded in his right-hand galloping to the destination. Above the men are roman arches with a set of 4 small blue outlined pink hearts, then a set of 2 triangles (blue or green) almost meeting on the flat part of their base. Above that are haloed winged Victory (?) images in roundels each having a little uniqueness to their image. On the bottom of the textile are various bunches or two-toned heart shaped cross flowers outlined in blue or green with a few baskets of fruits (Syrian? motif)875 outlined in red and some infrequent roundels of victory and hunters alluding to the “sense of prosperity” (Stauffer 1995).876 One roundel below, half missing shows a man riding his white horse with a blue cape which is above his shoulder. What is the significance of the mantle/cape over or under the shoulders of the figures? Another cape is shown on a ‘Vandal’ cavalryman in a mosaic pavement (dated 5thC late – 6thC early)877 @ Bordj Dejedid near Carthage. He parades waving his hand with a four-armed ωμέγα(?) cross emblazed on the horse’s side hind leg.878 See the mosaic pavement image at BMcws.879 A Coptic textile (ca.4-6thC) titled “Fragment of a Hanging: Amazonomachy”880 has a repeated scene of a blue caped Achilles(?) killing half-naked Amazon women(?) or their queen Penthesilea or possibly a scene from the trojan war881 found at DuraEuropos. In the border of the roundel is a two-tone flower in blue/green with a red pellet centered with a two-tone pink-red heart wedged between the flowers occurring consecutively about 23-25 times around. A new concept is found during the reign of Justinian I on an object called the ‘Barberini Ivory’882, where Angels above him not only have wings, but have Capes flowing in the Description from MMoA A#90.5.905 ‘Similar imagery “such as baskets of fruit”, is found on wall paintings of Umayyad desert palaces in Syria’. 876 Fragment from a Coptic Hanging 5thC Egypt A#90.5.905 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/140001547 877 Vandals mosaic pavement http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=58712& partId=1 878 Vandals http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Vandals 879 Caped Vandal(?) Roman mosaic 5th-6thC http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gall ery.aspx?assetId=743016001&objectId=58712&partId=1 880 Fragment of a Hanging: Amazonomachy 4-6thC Egypt O#1975.41.29 https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/288816 881 Wooden shield scenes from Trojan war from excavation at Dura-Europos 1928-37 https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/35278 882 Zuccker, Steven 2012. Barberini Ivory @ Musuem du Louvre, Paris https://www.flickr.com/photos/profzucker/29756168820/ 875 192 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY wind and holding the shield halo of Christ with the Sun (on his right), a Star & Moon (on his left). Fig. 170- Barberini Ivory 6thC.883 Cropped photo Steven Zucker 2012 BY NC SA 2.0.884 A cape worn and flowing in the wind (somewhat tucked by his side) by David while battling Goliath is found on the silver Cyprus plates Item#464377 A#17.190.396 made in Constantinople ca.629-630 presumably by Herakleios (r.610-641). Another silver plate has a ‘very winded’ cape on David slaying a Lion is found on item# 464375 A#17.190.394 also dated and created in the same time of Herakleios/Heraclius. An Egyptian Coptic tapestry weave fragment (ca.6-7thC) presents four men wearing pink tunics holding spears in a kneeling thrusting position while their blue cloaks are flowing behind them eerily similar to early Greek angel wings. An interesting stylistic distinction found; the two mean on the bottom of the roundel have their blue capes flowing above their arms and back, while the two men above in the roundel have their cloaks/capes below their arms almost flowing from their waists. Peacocks(?) below or behind them are not affected by their hunting(?) scene. A small heart ivy leaf, half pink and golden-beige coming off a partial flower of a ‘M’ shape in a cross(?) pattern is left from the interior roundel suggesting some form of Christian like motif? This item titled “Roundel with Hunter and Plants” can be found in the Harvard Art Museum.885 By this Zucker, Steven 2012. Barberini Ivory 6thC https://www.flickr.com/photos/profzucker/29756168820/ BY NC SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/ 885 Roundel w/Hunters & Plants O#1917.112 6-7thC Egypt Byzantine period https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/213744 883 884 193 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY time period the Cape/Mantle flowing in the wind may have become a personification of Angel Wings, that is humans would not have them, but the cape takes its place for the acts(actions) of Christian expression. A golden Goblet with four caped female figures as the personification of Cyprus, Rome, Constantinople, and Alexandria (the ecclesiastical centers in Byzantium) was made in the Avars as Byzantium, dated to the 700’s. See MMoA item#464119 A#17.190.1710. An 8th century roundel tapestry (Egyptian, Akhmim(?)) is believed to have the image of haloed Emperor Heraclius (r.610-41) crowned with a purple cape flowing, riding a horse with an ‘H’ shaped fleur-de-lis (or double ‘w’ omega?) spear and orb. Even more interesting is a blue ‘X’ has 4 white diamonds inserted into the corners behind him. Two rings that separate a red flame coming out of the center ‘w’ shaped vignette around his image have very small red, white and blue hearts in every direction, many of which are squeezed together as if a mosaic pavement. In 2012 this item was being held @ MMoA item 477556.886 The Shroud of Charlemagne ~814 a.d. has 4 men on the central roundel and all four of them have their mantles flying in the wind. Two of the men are on the outer horses and are attempting to give him a wreath (Fig. 78). During the same century another tapestry is associated to the same Constantinople workshop called ‘King Bahrām Gūr Hunt Scene’887 also has the same identical heart within a heart on rondel border, however in the cardinal positions is a gold cross with purple hearts wedged into the four arms. The Blue-Green Hunt scene was conserved at the Church of Saint-Calais, Sarthe region of France. Two bowmen hunters have purple mantles flowing in the wind. A horseman has his cape flowing behind them as they ride in the Byzantine Psalter BNF MS Grec 20 (dated 2nd half of 9thC) folio 18r (view 24) of Psalm 105. The Caped warrior becomes highly recognized in the Menologian of Basil (VG 1613) as the non-orthodox Christian barbarians throughout time were the persecutors of the Holy Roman Saints. During the period of Charles the Bald (r.840-877) an ivory piece ca.850-900 was made (Reims, France?) with 2 scenes of Christ888. The 1st or the top scene shows Christ providing his liturgical mantle as a transfer to continue the ministry to one of the disciples while most apostles are present. A Cape although not flowing or in action is shown on the seal/bullae (ca.901-906) of Armeniac’s strategus Leo Lalacon, expelled the Arabs from part of western Aremenia (Treadgold 1997, 466)”. This is the seal of Leon Lalacon, Duke of Armenian (contingents) Tapestry roundel of Byzantine Emperor https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/477556 King Bahram Gur Hunt scene 9thC Constantinople https://www.qantaramed.org/admin/pics_zoom/1494001%20Suaire%20(site).jpg 888 Two scenes of Christ and the Apostles A#2000.486 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/470327 886 887 194 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY whose Porphyrogéniète told us the exploits against the Saracens in Chapter XLV of the Book of the Administration. This seal tells us that Leon Lalacon was also wearing the high dignity of Curopalate title on the back of his Saint Demetrius. Leo L, was the leader of the Armenian theme in 901889, not 986. Inscription on the Obverse “Δεμετριοσ” = Demetrius. The inscription on the reverse “Lord, help your servant Leon Lalacon, Curopalate and Duke of Armeniaques.” A character soldier(?) or Moses(?) in the Exodus scene has a red cape and spear fighting(?) with a man in water. Found on folio 46v from the Leo Sakellarios Bible (Codex Reginensis Graecus 1 – MS.Reg.gr.1)890 from the mid 10thC. Three Red Heart shaped ivy leaves adorn the end of the Greek description in the margins. In the same period (10thC) the Paris Psalter (MS.gr.139) was supposedly created and in this Byzantine illumination immediately at folio2v, David is defending his flock from a lion (as stated in 1 Kings 17,34)891 while an Angel titled ICXYC(=Strength892) behind him has a green cape helping assist David with an arm to his right side. The manuscript has green and blue waves on the border of the illumination while 2 little vines come out of each section attached to ~80 divided hearts of blue/green.893 Two scenes later on folio 4v David is fighting Goliath with the sling-shot, the decapitates Goliath while wearing a magenta colored cape flowing to the side and back of him. The page is bordered with Gold diamonds on a purplish-black background, while each corner of the page has a black roundel with a gold flower/rosette which has 4 arrow shaped black hearts pointing outward (one each) to the corners of the square. One of only 2 images of Christ with a Cape (in action) is found at the Nea Moni (New Monastery) Church on the island of Chios of Greece built (after 1042). This mosaic894 has Christ holding the cross in his left hand and holding the arm of a believer during his incarnation (trip to the gates of hell) – his dark robe and cape ‘flowing’ behind him in the air both highlighting the gold creases of the material. The second location, Christ is Warren T Threadgold corrects the 986 date incorrectly associated with this seal. Vatican Library Codex Reginensis Graecus MS 1 https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Reg.gr.1.pt.B 891 Dippippo, Gregory 2017. The Paris Psalter http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2017/02/the-parispsalter.html#.XBUl1cR7ncs 892 The Greek Elements. 1971 Concordant Publishing. ICXYC meaning Strength p98. 893 David defending flock from Lion. Paris Psalter ms.gr.139 folio2v https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10515446x/f8.item 894 Studio of Byzantine icons http://eikonografos.com/album/displayimage.php?album=71&pos=69 889 890 195 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY painted in a similar pose & Resurrection /Anastasis scene (HANAC TACIC) at Hosios Loukas on the same island.895 Fig. 171- HANAC TACIC scene Nea Moni, Chios, Greece. (Icons courtesy of www.eikonografos.com, used with permission).896 A miniature illumination called the Milisende Psalter ca.1131-43 or Egerton MS 1139 has Christ with a cape in the same style as (Fig. 171) also holding a cross in the scene called ‘Harrowing of Hell’ (Anabasis) created in the Eastern Mediterranean (Jerusalem)897. A Byzantine Octateuch (ms Vat.gr.747) created between 1050-1070898, and updated in various folios ca.1139-1150-1152899, and then again extensively repainted by a Paleologan artist ca.1280900. In the ms there are quite a few shields; 4+ oval, 8+ round and 54+ tear-shaped >kite< shields (all totaling 197). On folios 225r, 248v (Daniel wrestling a lion?), 249v (Saint(?) running foxes/dogs?) there are warriors or saints with their chlamys waving in the wind behind them. Hosios Loukas, Grece - Christ HANACTACIC scene http://www.eikonografos.com/album/displayimage.php?pos=-5890 896 Agiografos http://www.eikonografos.com/album/displayimage.php?pos=-6009 897 British Library Melisende Psalter MS 1139 ca.1131-1143 in Latin https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/ILLUMIN.ASP?Size=mid&IllID=59614 898 Meyer, Mati 2005. On the Hypothetical Model of Childbearing Iconography in the Octateuchs. p245 899 Ibid, folio 75r ca1152. Folio 29v ca1150 900 Kogman-Appel & Meyer 2009, p245 referenced by Hutter (1972) pp140,143-44 regarding folios 22v, 24r24v, 25r 895 196 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Trefoil/Club Cross The club or trefoil imagery is similar to the fleur-de-lis, but the Club form (rounded arms of the cross) is internal to the heart wrapped by the shell of the inverted heart. Etruscan & Greek pottery from the 6th century b.c. refers to the mouth of pottery jars as ‘trefoil rim-disk’ or ‘trefoil lip’ shaped. Many of these trefoil mentions are tied to the mediterranean oinochee (perfume jugs).901 An early example typical of what we think of a trefoil/clubs found on the suit of cards was found on a murial from the ancient town of Zeugma (Ζεῦγμα) in Southern Turkey dating to the 2ndC b.c.. The ancient Zeugma town was covered by the damming of water in the year 2000 by a water works project, but many of these items were spared, recovered and placed in the Gaziantep museum. Deidamia, was the daughter of Lycoemedes and eventual wife of Achilles (“heel”, dipped into the River Styx by his mother Thetis902) who had a son by the name of Neoptolmus. Beside Deidamia is Penelope, wife of Odysseus who has a spade leaf on her left arm. Achilles (disguised as a woman hiding from war) is exposed (by Odysseus’s plan) in the palace of Lycomedes as Achilles seizes a sword & shield buried in feminine finery.903 The story of these two women (Penelope & Deidamia) may parallel devotion to their husbands (during war or other matters), abandonement, loyalty or some other life story in Greek tradition or Heroism. Fig. 172- Deidamia murial Zeugma, Turkey. Author Illustr'd from Pilar Torres photo 201.904 An early example of a club or rounded fdl maybe a pair of ear-rings with a large tear shape inserted into the top/point of a heart, of which the heart also has a club or fdl shape hanging from it. The inlays possible MMoA keyword search ‘trefoil’ https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search#!?q=TREFOIL Colakis, Marianthe. Masello, Mary Joan. 2007. Classical Mythology & More: A Reader workbook. p280 903 Melion, Walter. Zell, Michael. Woodall, Joanna. 2017. Ut picture amor: The Reflexiive Imagery of Love in Artistic Theory and Practice 1500-1700. p706 904 Gaziantep Museum, Turkey https://www.flickr.com/photos/pilar_torres/6223837266/ 901 902 197 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY turquoise are now missing, found in Begram a province of Afghanistan, Kabul dating 1st2ndC a.d. held at the British museum #1880.3810.a-b. Pilgrim badges dating from ca.400-1500 made of lead-alloy existed with various Christian images including trefoil leaf crosses. One is located in the BM acquired in 1856.905 Another example is an openwork Trefoil Byzantine ring906 from the 5th-8th century. It is described as “an early fleur-de-lis” (St. James Ancient Art). The side of the ring have a scrolled heart on each side holding the center roundel mount of the trefoil arms. In between the scrolled arms of the trefoil is a single pellet above each side. Fig. 173- Trefoil openwork Byzantine gold ring. Author Illustr'd from ancient-art.co.uk.907 Although former research908 records many mentions of trefoil shaped crowns during the Byzantine emperor Leo III (r.717-741), Justinian I (r.527-565) may have been the Christian originator of the trefoil during the modification from the stephanos crown to the stemma imperial crown.909. Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine solidus coins 613-641 have some very good trefoil crown examples due to the pelleted cross being tightly placed. A good example of this club form is above. A Byzantine manuscript vat.gr.747 (ca. 11thC) folios 33r, 35r, 36r (and on almost every page with a painting) has 4 red clubs (one on each corner) of the illumination. Some of the clubs are encircled with a small red indention in the shape of a heart(?). On some of the corners of the painting (see f57v, 71r) the club has 2 arms out-reached in the shape of a ‘Y’ with the pellet or dot centered on top as if the shape of the Club. Pilgrim badge M#1856,0701.2112 https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=45396 &partId=1&searchText=trefoil&images=true&page=1 906 Byzantine open work Gold ring https://www.ancient-art.co.uk/byzantine/byzantine-openwork-gold-ring/ 907 Ibid, illustrated from Mayfair gallery, London. Prior: private collection, West Somerset, UK, 1980s. 908 DOAKS 1973. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins…..: Leo III to Nicephorus III, 717-1081. Pg319,321. 909 Marton, Lajos. Zichy, Istvan. Fettich, Nandor 1937. Archaelogica Hungarica:… Volumes 22-23. Pg82. 905 198 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Pre-history of the >Teardrop/Ray< motif The Star/Sun rays or Rosette is one of the earliest forms that have the same shape of the >saints< shield of the 11thC a.d. is the Rosette motif which was very common in Assyrian culture 9th-7th century b.c.. Etruscan pottery from the 5th century b.c. also has this tearshape and is incorrectly(?)910 described as “palmetto leaves”.911 Fig. 174- Macedonian Stars on Corcyra, Greek coins ca 300-229 b.c. Coins image credit Peter Gardner 1883 912 Rosettes can be argued that it is a symbol of the Sun, the blossom of a Lotus or Daisy flower and/or any other composites of flowers. However, my point is the >tear< shaped shield imagery may likely have had it roots/origin from these various objects. Fig. 175- Military Thracian shield examples. Constantini Dafneses (left) & Balistarii Dafneses (right) ca.400a.d. Illustr. credit Otto Seeck 1876.913 Rosettes in Egypt can be dated from 4000 – 3000 b.c. (AR 1894, 279) or 3998-3721 b.c. (Haddon 1907, 163)914. A later form that has the >tear< shaped shield is the sun’s rays from the Vergina Sun/Star of Vergina / Macedonian Star or Argean Star. This 16, 12 or 8-pointed star is depicted on Art, pottery, Greek coins, Larnax(coffins), stone stele “Aristionos”, and Roman and Byzantines Shields. A Greek round Bronze shield dating 1st half of 3rdC b.c has an 8Palmetto leaves are long, pointed on the end with the entire leaf structure as fan-shaped. https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/saw-palmetto/ 911 Amphora w/dots & palmetto leaves, Etruscan, 5thC b.c. A#H690 http://www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk/en/collections/work/H690 912 Gardner, Peter 1883. Thessaly to Aetolia, A Catalogue of Greek Coins. 913 Seeck, Otto 1876. Notitia Dignitatum, or Register of Dignitaries. 914 Haddon, Alfred Cort 1907. Evolution in Art: As Illustrated by the Life-histories of Designs 910 199 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY rayed Macedonian star on the shield with inscription “Of King Demetrios”.915 This Symbol appears in ancient Greek art between the 6th and 2nd centuries BC.916 In the Notitia Dignitatum (lat. List of Offices) for the late Western Roman Empire and Eastern Byzantine Empire has many shield illustrations that have Sun shapes, lions, dragons, half-moons, eagles, Angels, leopards, keyholes(?), snakes, sun spirals/swirls, sun wheels(?), dogs, eyes(?) inserted into sun/shield Bosses, human faces on the Sun, heart & Sun combination, oriental ying/yang, rounded arched crosses, etc. Out of the 345 shields illustrated in the book, 60 of them have some sort of sun imagery with various forms on the rays. Does the sun swirled Thracian shield look like a design used in the Norman Bayeux tapestry for the “swirled” cross shields? On a Terracotta tomb plaque917 (ca.400-800 a.d.) in the Spanish culture has 9 rays of the Sun over a Chi-rho (surrounded by Aw) which is located in between two columns of Solomon(?). Are the Sun rays a personification of the “Son of God”? A: I believe this is a close or correct meaning for the ‘Son of God” on this imagery. 915 Christies.com Greek Bronze Shield “Of King Demetrios 3rdC b.c. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-greek-bronze-shield-hellenistic-period-circa-5747576-details.aspx 916 Vergina Star/Macedonian Star/Argead Star https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vergina_Sun 917 Terracota Tomb Plaque ca400-800 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/466122 200 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The Eye/Nazar Another ancient shape is the Nazar (or Evil Eye) and/or Egyptian Eye both of which have various shapes to both and various dates of re-occurrence. The word Nazar actually dates back to the Phoenicians which means sight, surveillance, attention and other related concepts.918 An eye typically “teardrop” shaped amulet is worn to protect against the evil eye of watchful persons. The Nazar is worn by many cultures including Hindu, Urdu, Persian’s, Syrians, the Turk’s, Bosnians, Bulgarians, Greek’s, Israeli’s and many more. Fig. 176- Eye in Tapestry from Achmim, Egypt dates 5th-7thC. Symbol of divine omniscience. Image credit Walter Lowrie 1901.919 The Eye is found in the tapestry of Achmim/Akhmim is said not to be a Christian symbol of the time, “but they were so commonly used in the 6th century that a combination of them would have seemed by no means out of place in ecclesiastical embroidery (Lowrie 1901: 374)”. In the 6th century the Byzantine emperor Justinian built the Basilica Cistern to store tons of water and, in the cistern, it has many columns including only one called ‘The Hens Eye Column’. The Eye or Tear column resembles the exact columns from Triumphal Arch of Theodosius I (379-395 a.d.) and in 478 an earthquake toppled his statue. Did one of these Eye columns eventually move to the Basilica cistern during construction by Justinian I before 565? A historical text suggests the Eye column pays tribute to the hundreds of slaves (crew of 7000) who died during the construction.920 A late 6th century glass medallion (from Anemurium) suggests that the “the seal of Solomon restrains the evil eye”. Foskolou described the ancient story (1st-3rdC a.d.) behind these ‘seals of Solomon’ a prophet king has the power to control all demons with the seal given to him by GOD921. The phylactery devices appear to have been created many more times over the next centuries and I believe the Holy Warrior language was modified to the bulla(e) talismans (Saint culture) worn/held by Byzantine warriors going into battle between the 10th-12th centuries. If you think about it, the coins/bulla(e) are almost a very rounded eye shape. An Egyptian leather cover has the image of St. Philotheos with a large eye shaped belt and also holding a lintoid shaped shield & spear dating from the 1st half of the 7thC.922 Nazar (amulet) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazar_(amulet) Lowrie, Walter 1901. Monuments of the Early Church. 920 Basilica Cistern https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Cistern 921 Johnston, S. Iles “The Testament of Solomon from Late Antiquity to the Renaissance,” in J. N. Bremmer – J. R. Veenstra (eds), The Metamorphosis of Magic from Late Antiquity to the Early Modern Period, Leuven 2002, p35-50. 922 Warfare1, Antinoë, Egypt. Coptic St. Philotheos 7thC leather cover of writing set http://warfare1.000webhostapp.com/6-10/Coptic-St_Philotheos-Louvre-7C.htm 918 919 201 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Peacocks and/or its >Eyes< Peacocks and their eyes are an ancient Christian Greek symbol of immortality via the Pagan myth of the hundred Eyes of Argus and the peacock was crossed with the phoenix story of rejuvenation and the resurrection of the dead923. Including tail feathers the ‘Eye’ is more recently “symbolize the all-seeing God and in some interpretations, the Church”924. The peacock was associated with ‘Paradise’ and the ‘Tree of Life’ in old Persian and Babylonian symbolism. The “Ancient Greek and Romans believed that the body of the peacock did not decay after death” (CMA 1982.73)925 and so the peacock imagery was adopted into Christianity and the peacock became associated with resurrection. The Peacocks tails in the tapestry below has a mixed set of red and blue hearts which is typically where the eye shapes are presented in the tail feathers. Fig. 177- Hanging w/Peacock Images 500's.926 Cropped photo credit CMA CC0 1.0 PD.927 Withrow, William Henry 1877. The Catacombs of Rome: And Their Testimony Relative to Primitive Christianity, pg 240. 924 Christian Symbolism>Peacock https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_symbolism 925 Fun Fact about peacocks in Hanging w/Christian images https://clevelandart.org/art/1982.73 926 Hanging Tapestry weave w/Christian Images. Egypt/Byzantine 6thC http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1982.73 927 https://www.clevelandart.org/open-access (CC0) https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 923 202 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A Syrian mosaic fragment of a peacock928 originally part of a church floor from the 5th6thC has 13 hearts decorating the tail in place of the ‘eye’ feathers that normally are shown on a typical peacock’s plumage. Although the peacocks head crest typically has more than a half-dozen feathers showing, the bird’s head piece is only showing the Christian count of the trinity. In Egypt, the peacock was associated with the all-seeing eye929 of Horus” (Andrews 2010) possibly due to the multitude of eye markings on its tail feathers. A 6th-8th century Byzantine bronze betrothal ring went up for auction930 in 2017 that had an eye image and inscribed around it (top & bottom) was the Greek word ‘OMONOIA’ which means Concord or Harmony. During the reign of Solomon “once every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes, and peacocks (I King X,22) (O’Shea 1919, 4539)”931. An alabaster Panel (ca.501-700 a.d.) with two peacocks932 are standing on two branches that have three large leaves similar to a fdl. The Peacocks are supporting the cross on the top beam with their beaks while looking eye to eye. The negative space between the peacocks and the cross appear to be a almost perfectly shaped noninverted heart. “To the Germans and the Anglo-Saxons, the Sun was the eye if Woden (Aynsley 1900, 30)”. Woden is also the synonym for Oden/Odin and German and Norse mythology have different understandings of Odin/Woden the god. Mosaic Fragment with Peacock Facing Left O# 75.AH.121 http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/7290/unknown-maker-mosaic-fragment-with-peacockfacing-left-roman-5th-6th-century/ 929 Andrews, Ted 2010. Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small. 930 Byzantine betrothal ring 6-8thC https://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/15642255-rare-byzantine-bronzebetrothal-ring-with-omonoia-inscription-and-eye-symbol-jewellery-box-included 931 O’Shea, M.V. 1919, The World Book Organized knowledge in Story and Picture. p4539. 932 Panel w/two peacocks A#2008.382 https://www.mfah.org/art/detail/92418 928 203 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY An Alemannic ring dating from the mid 7th century has 4 peacocks intertwined including an ‘A’ Alpha over an ‘M’ o[w]mega on the North/South cardinal points. On the East/West points is a ‘P’ Rho and IX Chi-Rho. Fig. 178- Alemannic ring 7thC w/[A]lpha over inverted o[M]ega. Photo credit original source unknown.933 The Ayin in the Torah bible means eye and was drawn as an eye. Y’shua is another word for Jesus son of YHWH [GOD]. The final letter in Y’shua is the ‘ayin’. In Exodus 21:2325 says “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise”. In the Torah under “lex talionis” it says the same, or the exact punishment for the crime.934 Pray and ask Y’shua for your eyes to be opened. Is Y’shua the >eye shield< a bible representation for the exact punishment at the End? Or an >eye< shield opening to come out of darkness? After thinking on it for a day, this seems more realistic. The Saints venerated in the 10th-13th century in Byzantium maybe a lookback replacing the evil eye shape into a shield now being represented in Seals, Talismans and Coins. The soldiers pray to their particular Saint George, St. Demetrius, St. Michael, etc. Their Saints would have the same eye shaped shield as they would have in Battle. 933 934 Alemannic ring 7thC https://i.pinimg.com/564x/52/31/d4/5231d4f24070a29018ee4d062987954f.jpg Rendelman, Daniel 2010. pg 229, The Open Bible: Learning from the Torah Portion 204 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Tears/Marks/Pearls Tears or marks are the sole imagery of a tear (or pear/pearl) shape usually standing up ended or pointed down to something (ie, the ground, crown, clothing, etc..) without a dot/period occasionally anchoring the position. The tear shape has also adorned Imperial family’s in the form of white pearls colored jewelry ear rings associated with Justinian’s era (mid 500’s) on the walls of the Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy. Prior to the 9th century the majority of the tear shape items are jewelry usually adorn women ears, necks or rings, while men have a rare tear shaped Gold ring with a Holy figure carved in a precious stone. Pearls or Pear-shaped tear drops are shown in frescos of the Imperial leaders in the churches. According to an Anonymous Byzantine author in the 12th century, “the white color of the pearls alluded to the emperor being spotless”.935 Pearls were an expression of the opulence of the emperors and a manifestation of Byzantine tastes for precious and luxurious goods. “Throughout the Byzantine period, they were considered as symbols of faith, piety, wisdom, and the knowledge of God seen considered to be a symbol of Christ Himself.’ “The Generation of the pearl from a wound in the pearloyster, its lodgment in the deep, the rarity and difficulty of obtaining it, are obvious symbolical motives for its use (Peloubet 1878: 243).” Fig. 179- Theodora (left) & Justinian (right) mosaic in San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy ca.547 a.d. Cropped Image illustr’n credit Walter Lowrie 1901.936 Pearls are mentioned in the Bible 1x in Esther and 8x in the New Testament. In the book of revelation 21 describing the New Jerusalem coming out of heaven, “The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.” Pearls in white enamel were also occasionally used in cloisonné enamels alongside the inverted hearts – case in point is St. Demetrios medallion in gold from the frame with St. Gabriel which was housed in Djumati monastery, Georgia(Russia), made ca.1100. Items like pearl jewelry do present some of the best and universal motif imagery of the shield shapes due to their ability to be hidden (because of their size), stored away (infrequently used) or lost from one’s person. There are hundreds of pieces of jewelry (mostly items worn from the neck or Parani Maria G. 2003 Reconstructing the Reality of Images: Byzantine Material Culture and Religious Iconography 11Th-15th Centuries 936 Monuments of the Early Church by Walter Lowrie 1901. 935 205 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY costume) that have presented the idea that these shapes were around long before their shapes were constructed into a piece of armor. Here are a few items that have some interesting symbols pre-dating the >tear< shaped shield. Fig. 180- Tear shaped marks w/no dot or period. Redrawn from True cross Reliquary box937. Another example of the tear imagery is a stone mold for metal amulets with the 1st verse of Psalm 90/91 ca.6th-7thC researched by V.A. Foskolou938. Foskolou re-iterates the tear shape inscription as “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High”939. This verse continues with “will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”. So, it the tear imagery a shadow of the shelter of GOD? Another interesting verse is 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. The Staff of St. Peter found in the Cologne, Germany treasure has a few items of interest which includes ~10 Gold & Black diamonds, 8-10 small tears on end, a double row of 6 black hearts (12 total?) with each consecutive heart wedged between the next ( Fig. 90). Parts of the frame are dated from the 8th century940. Translated from German: “According to legend, Eucharius, Maternus and Valerius were sent by Pope Peter as missionaries to the northern side of the Alps. Maternus died and was revived with the Episcopal by Eucharius sent by Peter. Maternus became the first bishop of Cologne and Eucharius first bishop of Trier, where he also took the episcopal staff. The legend was written in 960 in Trier and thus underscored the ownership claim and the supremacy of Trier in Germania and Gaul (TDW 2012)”.941 While Hubert de Vries comments or referenced that “it is doubted that the staff from Cologne has belonged to him” [Otto Fieschi Morgan Staurotheke reliquary box of the true cross https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fieschi_Morgan_Staurotheke 938 Foskolou, Vicky A. University of Crete. THE MAGIC OF THE WRITTEN WORD: THE EVIDENCE OF INSCRIPTIONS ON BYZANTINE MAGICAL AMULETS, pg336. 939 Drandaki, A. “Copper Alloy Jewellery at the Benaki Museum: 4th to 7th Century,” AT 13 (2005), 74, fig. 11b 940 Otto I by Hubert de Vries. Best and only image of St. Peters staff http://www.hubertherald.nl/ImpRomOtt1.htm 941 Petrus Stab Reliquiar via TDW 2012 http://www.traumpfade-der-welt.de/tdw_lt.php?reise_id=5075 937 206 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY I], however in my opinion it may have been more for a Bishop or other ecclesiastical clergy in high position during Otto’s reign. Fig. 181- Christ blessing Leo VI w/tear marks on Imperial robe Rome/David casket ca.898-900. Redrawn from various images.942 In the late 9th century the Homilies of Gregory of Nazianzus (Gregory the Theologian) MS Gr 510 was produced in the Byzantine Empire (880-883) & dedicated to Emperor Basil I of Macedonian (r.867-886) begins our finds. A very interesting find, Folio BV and CR have a large cross on each page tasseled rope (A & V/W shaped pattern) hanging above & below attached to the back of the cross. Above the arms of the cross or inverted tears/up ended floating in the air. Some of the tear drops have a red dot centered to them. Some of these tear shapes are part of the fish’s body (Jesus a fisherman) which surrounds the net and cross. The ‘True cross Reliquary box’ has a small adornment in an enameled baby blue color for the ivy leaves and 2 marks at the base of the cross on the True cross Reliquary box dated early 9th century.943 The ‘Rome or David casket’ (from Palazzo Venezia) of Ivory is dated ca.898/900 a.d also has this mark without the dot/period. The ‘Bible of Leo Sakellarios’ has a repeated cross painting in size from the Gregory of Nazianus MS in which red tear shapes are embedded within the cross and point outwards. See (Vat Reg Grk MS 1) folios 2r, and 3v. This MS dates from mid 10thC or 950’s. The Solomon enamel (ca.11thC) located in St. Marks treasure in Venice has many white tears/marks aligning the Solomon’s robe. 942 943 Rome or David Casket http://warfare.ga/6-10/Rome_or_David_Casket.htm Enameled True Cross box https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/17.190.715ab/ 207 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Tears/Marks in Jewelry The teardrop imagery is used to emphasize (or focus) the cross between the arms (open or filler space) and maybe colored differently than the cross. Obviously, the heart cross become the arms and completes the shape, or occasionally the heart is wedged in the same position in between the arms/beams of the cross. An early example maybe a pair of ear-rings with a large tear shape inserted into the top of a heart, of which the heart also has a club or fdl shape hanging from it. The inlays possible turquoise are now missing, found in Begram a province of Afghanistan, Kabul dating 1st-2ndC held at the British museum #1880.3810.a-b. A 6th century Frankish silver brooch gilded w/garnet cross disk brooch white tear shape shields in the cross corners held at the MMoA item# 464932 A#17.191.23. Fig. 182- Disk Brooch, 6th century Frankish.944 Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.945 An example of a tear shaped ring is the Byzantine Garnet Cameo ring “ET VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST” ca 6th-7thC recently sold at Christies auction house. This Gold Cameo ring was made for someone in or close to the Byzantine imperial authority to God. The is a Gold wing shield shaped ring with the head of a man, “perhaps Christ or an Apostle, wearing a long-pointed beard and downturned moustache, with angled lidded eyes and a fringe or short cap-like hair; mounted as a ring in a modern gold setting, the following inscription on the bezel in Latin”. Translated = “and the word was made flesh”, from the Gospel of John 1:14. Ring size: 13/16 in. (2.1 cm.) long; ring size 9. This could also have been made during the Iconoclasts period 720-802 a.d. if the beholder would rather wear the veneration rather than remove it from the church walls.946 Other possible images for the ring maybe St. Nicholas or St. George.947 I researched and found one possible Emperor that comes close to this description Disk Brooch 6thC Frankish A#17.191.23 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464932 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 946 According to C.W.C.Oman author of The Byzantine Empire, the period of Iconoclasts was 720-802.a.d. 947 Sigillographie L’Empire Byzantine by Gustave Schlumberger 1884. See St. Nicholas seal in cabinet of medallions in Berlin 10th-11thC. 944 945 208 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY “pointed beard and straight hair combed forward” was Phocas (Phokas) I reigned 602610, that is if the person embellished in the ring was also modelling the Emperor of that era. There is also a St. Gregory Nazianzen (aka the Theologian) ordained priest and become a bishop in 381 of Constantinople and all images have Gregory beared. This ring came up for auction at Christies in New York in December of 2005 and a price of $10,200 was realized.948 Fig. 183- Byzantine Garnet Cameo ring “ET VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST” ca.6th-7thC. Author Illustr’d from Christies auction house.949 The Lot essay described from Christies points to similar examples (#301, 468, 474-5) in the book “Age of Spirituality, Late Antique and Early Christian Art, Third to Seventh Century.”950 The front cover of Kurt Weitzmann 1979 book (pg29) has an artifact image “Diptych of Christ and the Virgin” (Theotokos) (mid-6th century) holding a bible with this 4 wing/tear shaped design pointing toward the corner of the book951. Justinian I, reigned between 527-565. Only 2 other examples were found for a ring with this inscription: a. Kingdom of Naples Gold round oval red jasper stone signet ring dating back to 1265-84? or 14thC.952 b. Cornelian lion (reddish stone) intaglio ring (set in gold) with a 2 wing shields on both sides between the fingers with a rosette under the finger with Inscription in Lombardic script around the stone ca.14thC. 953 https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-byzantine-garnet-cameo-circa-6th-7th-century-4617189details.aspx 949 Christies Aucton House 2005. Byzantine Garnet Cameo tear shaped ring https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-byzantine-garnet-cameo-circa-6th-7th-century-4617189details.aspx 950 Christies Byzantine Garnet Cameo 6-7th century https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-byzantinegarnet-cameo-circa-6th-7th-century-4617189-details.aspx 951 Kurt Weitsman 1979 or SunyOneOnta College http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth212/icons.html 952 Archaeological Journal vol8 1851 https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Archaeological_Journal/Volume_8/Proceedings_at_the_Meetings_of_the_Ar chaeological_Institute_November_7,_1851 Same ring http://www.english.cam.ac.uk/cmt/?m=201412&cat=7 or http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121097/signet-ring-unknown/ 953 Berganza ltd Lombardic lion ring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXY6RU5z6c8 948 209 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Tears/Marks in Coinage Offa, king of Mercia (r.757-796) penny from London mint has 4 tears (or lobes) in the shape of an ‘X’ cross. Inside the tears is a 3 pelleted head of a ‘t’ (or saltires) cross. On the cardinal position east and west are ‘P’ (=Rho?) rotating with the coin. See example @ wildwinds954. Fig. 184- king Offa examples of tear marks in coinage. Image credit British Museum 1887.955 Cynethryth (died ~798) queen of Offa, also had a coin with 4 tears/lobes. In the 4 lobes is a diamond\lozenge, ‘A’, a ‘B?’ and a cross ‘+ ‘w’ or ‘T’(Tau?) character. See the image at BM R#1896,0404.34.956 King Canute ‘the Great’ a ‘Dane Viking’ (r.1016-1035) became King of England (1017) and is credited with being the first Scandinavian King to accept Christianity957. In the year before during the Dane Conquest of England (1016) Cnut bore a raven banner at the Battle of Ashingdon. In a calculated move CNUT married Emma of Normandy (b.985-1052) the wife of the late AEthelred II (died 1016). Emma described in Encomium Emmae, “The banner was woven of the cleanest and whitest silk” – “a raven was always to be seen, as if woven into it” – “if the Danes were going to win the battle, the raven appeared, beak wide open, flapping its wings and restless on its feet”958. Cnut was known to be ruthless as a Viking conqueror, so in an effort to reconcile himself with the Church he repaired churches, rebuilt and refilled their coffers. In 1031, the Liber Wildwinds coin of Offa http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/brit/mercia/Seaby_905_Dudda.jpg Keary, Charles Francis 1887. A Catalogue of English Coins in the British Museum: Anglo Saxon Series..Vol 1. Plates VI, VII. 956 Cynethryft coin http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gall ery.aspx?assetId=262577001&objectId=1093194&partId=1 957 Cnut the Great https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cnut_the_Great 958 Raven Banner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_banner#cite_ref-27 954 955 210 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY vitae (Stowe MS 944959) documents/illuminated King Cnut crowned by an Angel and his Queen Emma veiled by an Angel too, presenting a cross upon an altar church of Winchester (New Minster), with God within a vessica above them between the patron Saints of the Abbey, the Virgin Mary and St. Peter. See the pages with Cnut Stowe MS 944 manuscript @ British Library. The cross that Cnut rex (King Cnut) and (AELfgifu Regina) Queen Emma was a royal donation, a real recorded event. Many older crosses found throughout monasteries worldwide can be embellished with precious gems and jewels. The cross is shown possible gilded with Gold or fine painting on the ends of the cross, but no Jewels. The typical Jeweled crosses found in the ancient world were embedded in the entire extent of artifact. One example from the 10th century /1000 a.d. is the cross of Lothair/ Lotharius cross (located in Aachen Germany) that has gilded Silver, Gold and a wide variety of precious stones and pearls adorned to it. It is 50cm/1ft 6in inches tall. The Matilda cross dating to 973 a.d has similarities in gild, jewels, enameled plaque and size. The cross in the manuscript “Menologian of Basil II Vat.gr 1613” page 350 is mostly gold with about 8 jewels embedded in the cross about 2 1/2ft in height. The point I’m trying to make comes next when the coin that was made for Cnut was type termed “Jeweled Cross”. I believe this is a misnomer, because no church crosses have ever had 4 single Gems/Jewels to make up the entire length of the artifact. Only small pieces of a neckless or brooch Jewelry would ever be able to have four pieces of precious gems completing a cross. Keep in mind Canute was a Danish Viking and still remembers his youth as a raider and warrior. Fig. 185Canute/CNUT the Great "partially hidden" tear-shaped shielded cross. Photo credit H A Parsons BNJ 1915.960 959 960 Liber Vitae c1031-1771 Stowe MS 944 http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Stowe_MS_944 Parsons, H Alexander 1915. British Numismatics Journal Vol XI. p43 211 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY King Harthacnut (r.1035-1042) of Denmark (r.1040-42) of England, son of Canute and Emma of Normandy. The coins probably date of issue is 1036 and the coin is referred to having “a cross formed from four ovals” (Parsons 1915, 47). Fig. 186Harthacnut "shielded cross” 1035-37. Photo credit H A Parsons BNJ 1915.961 King Harold I ‘Harefoot’ (r.1035-1040) son of Canute and Ælfgifu of Northampton (ca 990 ~1036). This coin appears to be the so-called “Jeweled cross” that Emma released post mortem (~1035) for CNUT, but in fact I suggest this is a “Shielded Cross” due to the misnomer explanation previously described. Harthacnut (r.1036-37) also had minted a coin with this very same shielded cross. Notice the shields intersecting the cross and shield edges standing alone where the lines of the shield do not meld. The more I review the coin, I see a 5th shield, the Viking round shield in the center with the Byzantine >tear< shields over lapping the edges and having the shield boss stand out clearly visible. There is actually no cross visible and the lines of what would be a cross don’t go to the inner or outer edge of the coin (like Cnut’s long or short cross coin does), only the shields are perfectly place to symbolize the shape of the crucifixion cross. The Gemology world only has 2 facets cuts that can resemble a jewel close to this shape. They are a Pear and Briolette (similar to a spear tip), however they both come to an immediate point. The Briolette shape with as many facets (from thick to pointed) looks extremely difficult to make and being in Medieval times even less likely. The numismatics world identification and standards should revisit this coin and possibly rename as the “Shield(ed) Cross” or “Shields Cross”. Fig. 187- Harold I "shielded cross”. Photo credit H A Parsons BNJ 1915.962 961 962 Parsons, H Alexander 1915. British Numismatics Journal Vol XI. p47 Parsons, H Alexander 1915. British Numismatics Journal Vol XI. p40 212 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY King Edward ‘the Confessor’ (r.1042-1066) with the so-called expanded cross coin with letter G in the field. Edward was the step-son of Canute the Great who married Emma of Normandy. Aelfwine = Moneyer and Mint=Wilton. Fig. 188- Edward Confessor "expanding" shielded cross. Photo credit H A Parsons BNJ 1917.963 Heart cross examples: A 5th-7thC Coptic rosette embroidered on flax or wool fragment has 4 pinkish-magenta colored petals in the shape of a heart cross attached in the center. Although this item is believed to be a rosette964, it actually resembles the red dogwood flower albeit missing the stigma in the design. A 6th century Frankish copper gilded w/green glass hearts into the cross corners inlaid disk brooch held at the MMoA 464864 A#17.191.17 Fig. 189- Disk Brooch 6th Century Frankish.965 Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.966 A 6th century Sasanian (Mesopotamia, Ctesiphon) stucco relief roundel with 6 radiating palmettes and 6 IH’s, with each one centered between the palmettes. Read more about MMoA item 322631 A#32.150.4. A 10th century Iranian silver Bottle Flask made from blown glass with a roundel of 4 hearts quartering a cross. Held at the MMoA 449822 A#40.170.129. Parsons, H Alexander 1917. Symbols and Double Names on Late Saxon Coins. British Numismatics Journal p60 964 Rosette fragment wool 5-7thC Coptic A#64.114.265 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/85201 965 Disk Brooch 6thC Heart Frankish https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464864 963 966 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 213 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Alpha Arrow/Pointer The Rosette leaf, Lily, or Aegean ‘ ’, or other Alpha shaped motif used as a tear arrow or mark emphasizing the cross. A Glass Gold bowl base967 created from 350-400 found in Rome may have about ~14 of these arrow pointers resembling foliage in the miracle scenes around Christ with the inscription ZER / ES (=Live) MMoA 2019. The AAP’s are somewhat abstract and each one slightly different either angles, off-centered, longer on one side, shifted as if quickly drawn arrows all pointing to the center roundel of Christ. Two of these Christ hide as if used for an oddly shaped Omega ω or as an inverted 968 are beside . This capital in the Byzantine period of Northern Syria 5th century presumably came from a large or important church has acanthus leaves surrounding a rosette ‘ ’ pointing to the corners of the cross. Depending on the how one views this, the upper right corner of the roundel appears to have an opening bloom of a lily, however if viewed in the opposite corner it appears as an Alpha ‘ ’. Fig. 190- Byzantium, Northern Syria, Byzantine period 5thC Capital.969 John L. Severance Fund 1969.110. Photo credit CMA - CC0 1.0.970 Bowl base w/Miracles Scenes, ca.350-400 Roman or Byzantine A#16.174.2 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/463713?&searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&ao=on&f t=glass+hearts+saints&offset=120&rpp=20&amp;pos=132 968 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 969 Byzantine Capital from Northern Syria 400’s/5thC http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1969.110 970 https://www.clevelandart.org/open-access (CC0) https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 967 214 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Another interesting image with this similar Arrow motif seen in the corners and borders of the Ravenna Basilicas, but much more resembled the >Aegean < font all pointing to each other in the shape of an ‘X’ or ‘†’ cross. If you look at the image from the 3 legs downward it becomes the same shape of the white lilies971 blooming972 underneath Saint Apollinaire in that basilica. Even though these are thought to be Egyptian, the column may be a fragment of Byzantine columns no longer used in reconstruction after various earthquakes or fire damage before 562 a.d. Fig. 191- Column Capital 6thCE.973 Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund. Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.974 Another Greek Key (meander) frieze and rosette motif975 from the Coptic culture (ca.56thC) early Byzantine Period has the similar >Aegean < motif , but the arms of the ‘A’ are outstretched and the ‘v’ extends to a point in an arrow spear tip style. The 4 points intersect at the round pellet as an ‘X’ cross as the so-called ‘rosette’ is described for this motif from Hagop Kevorkian archaeological research and gift. This rosette/arrow in my opinion is more the bloom of a Lily (Shoshan)976 or Egyptian Lotus flower as previously seen in the Ravenna mosaic motifs. Farrar, Linda 2016. Gardens and Gardeners of the Ancient World: History, Myth, and Archaelogy. p190, Identifies white lilies or daises in St. Apollinaire mosaics. 972 See Shutterstock first few seconds of white lily bloom https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-376054white-lily-blooming---time-lapse 973 Column Capital Egypt 6thC CE A# 43.55 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/54575 974 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 975 Frieze with Greek Key Motif 5-6thC O#1975.41.102 Coptic Byzantine period https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/286251 976 Goldmann Dr. Ze’ev 2008, The Shoshan (Lily) developed as motif companion with David’s shield and Solomon’s temple http://zeevgoldmann.blogspot.com/2008/08/ii-star-of-david-on-mosaic-floor-at-ein.html 971 215 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Exclamation Mark/Point! This is the expansion of a Tear/Mark symbol. It is believed this image “comes from the Latin ‘io’, which means “hurray”, an exclamation of joy or wonder.977 It looks like more a pointed tear shape with a white dot following. One of the earliest pieces of art (Fig. 110) with these little images is in the Gregory de Nazianze978 ms Gr.510 (Basil of Macedonian) ca.879-883 folio 285r on the tunic of the brothers Leo VI or Alexander. Following his father, the mark/tear carved in ivory and the tear shape is pointing toward the line of the Leo VI’s garment and the dot is in the male thorakion rather than behind the mark. The “Rome or David casket” (from Palazzo Venezia) of Ivory is dated ca.898/900 a.d. . The Ivory Casket (Fig. 181) is believed to be a wedding gift from donors to Leo VI and his third wife, Eudokia Baiane as Anthony Cutler and Nicolas Oikonomides have maintained.979 Both Leo and his Wife are adorned with the same square tile shapes on their >thorakion< as the St. Eudokia has on her >thorakion< loros shield funerary plaque. An interesting discovery is the Up-Ended blue tears and Ivy leaves of Hearts (crucifixion scene) found on the ‘Enameled’ Reliquary box of the True Cross which has been dated by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to 800.a.d. This same up-ended two tear white drop shape occurs between the cross on the crown of Constantine IX Monomachus (r.1042-1055) in the Hagia Sophia. Fig. 192- Exclamation mark lining the borders of Warriors, Saints or Imperial clothing. Author Illustr’n from various Byzantine art. The following art have this little interesting motif: 977 Exclamation mark ! https://medium.com/interesting-histories/interesting-histories-comma-dot-questionmark-exclamation-mark-90efb9300bfa 978 Gregorie de Nazianze ca.879-883 ms.Gr.510 Purple Hearts scrolled http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84522082/f13.item 979 Cutler, Anthony & Oikonomides, Nicolas. 1988 Anthony Cutler and Nicolas Oikonomides, "An Imperial Byzantine Casket and Its Fate at a Humanist's Hands," Art Bulletin,LXX, no. 1, 1988, 77-87; 216 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Blue Tears standing on end under the Cross on the Reliquary Box of the True Cross ca 800a.d. An ivory crucifixion scene from Constantinople occurring in the 10thC has Saint John the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary on each side of Christ. The typical Sun and Moon are presented with the Sun having 6 EM’s with the dot facing outward and the points to a center dot. 980 Constantine & Helena mosaic (ca.1011/1030) wardrobe in Hosios Loucas church @ Stiris, Greece. Helena has 8 marks split between the cross thorakion on her dress. Constantine, her son has 6 on each side going in the same vertical direction of the center cross beam on his tunic.981 John II Komnenos (r.1119-1143) emperor mosaic in the Hagia Sophia has barely a few marks visible aligning his thorakion crossed robe since the lower portion of the mosaic is completely erased.982 Roger II, king of Sicily in 1130 has a mosaic of him being crowned by Christ @ Martorana, Palermo, Italy. Around 19 white marks again point upwards alongside the thorakion cross on his robe.983 William II of Sicily mosaic (south wall) @ Cathedral of Monreale, Italy has about 24 white marks all located in the cobalt blue lines up on edge to the golden lattice work coming over the arms, the belt or to the center of his royal robe. This church was erected in the 1180’s.984 Emperor Andronikos II Palaiogos (1282-1328) image appears on a chrysobull (document granting privilege’s) dated 1301 with Nikolas Metropolitan of Monemvasia (12831325).985 Andronikos’s robe is black with the exclamation mark lining the cross-shaped thorakion with the period(dot) closest to the edge pointing away. Again, this symbol is done in white! 980 Crucifixion scene 10thC A#71.244 The Walters Art Museum https://art.thewalters.org/detail/8304/crucifixion-4/ 981 Constantine I and Helena (Mother) w/Exclamation motif on thorakion border https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hosios_Loukas_(narthex)_-_West_wall,_left__detail_03_(Constantine_and_Helena)_02.jpg 982 John II Komnenos https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_II_Komnenos 983 Roger II of Sicily https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_II_of_Sicily 984 Mosaics in Cathedral of Monreale https://www.wga.hu/html_m/zgothic/mosaics/5monreal/index.html 985 Andronikous II http://www.byzantinemuseum.gr/en/permanentexhibition/byzantine_world/authority_administration/?bxm =534 217 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Heart Cross Tapestries The earliest Heart cross in tapestries is highly likely to be the Coptic (Egyptian Christians) as the Copt’s people were the most highly skilled and accessible near Byzantium. The interesting thing to take note is that the Hearts in many early tapestries are referred to as a ‘Rosette’ probably due to the flower like appearance. However, if you take a further review many of the so-called rosettes, they are monograms hiding the Alpha and O(ω)mega. This 5thC fragment hosts at least ~20 Heart crosses disguised as 2-toned heads of a flower bloom. Fig. 193- Fragment from a Coptic Hanging 5thC.986 Gift of George F. Baker 1890. Cropped photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.987 A green ‘X’ outlines a Lambda ‘Λ’ and the outside of the omega ‘ω’. This hanging is part of caped Christian warriors with Angels in roundels above them. An almost identical heart motif can be found on the ceiling of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia built in the 5thC.988 In (Fig. 194) the North & South points have a Lambda Λ over ω, while the East & West points have a ΛIω. Some are not as clearly visible as this example, but may have a partial letter ω filled in as a hint989. Another sign, that this isn’t a rosette, is the fact that geometric symbols like a green ‘X’ with a circle ‘O’ inside is over a 2-toned pink and beige colored square inside of an edge where pedals appear as mounds. Fig. 194- Rosette.990 Gift of Adelaide Goan. Photo image The Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.991 Fragment from a Coptic Hanging 5thC Egypt A#90.5.905 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/444378 987 Disk Brooch 6thC Heart Frankish https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464864 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 988 Heart motif on mausoleum ceiling of Galla Placidia https://www.flickr.com/photos/photoroobit/6938643899/ 989 Rosette ‘X’ with red ‘w’ omega filled petal ends https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/48853 990 Rosette flax wool fragment 5-7thC Coptic A#64.114.265 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/85201 991 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 986 218 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Another Heart cross imagery that occurs so many times, that it becomes blended into the scene of every other motif is the heart cross in the Ravenna Basilica’s mostly at San Vitale and San Apollinaire used as a border motif. The Ravenna heart cross usually have a single pellet meeting the heart point in the center. The result affect of the ‘t’ Heart Cross is an extra ‘X’ or ‘Chi’ cross making this an apparent Greek origin. This heart cross motif being 4 hearts combined to make the shape of the cross appears to have re-invigorated in the Time of Leo VI. However, many pieces of jewelry may have already used the hearts in combination to make cross talismans back to the 4th century. A lucky find of a Roman floor mosaic (in reddish-brown, lighter black, and natural beige) dating to the 1stC from a villa near Guido Castle, near Rome has a geometric pattern with rosettes of 6 pedals, triangles of red stone, waves circling the large roundel, 4 vignettes surrounding a chalice in 2 corners and a 2 large fdl’s(?) in the other corners. There are at least 2 heart crosses (4 pedals of hearts), including 4-8 singular heart shaped leaves attached to the vine. 2-4 open lily fdl’s shaped flowers also exist. The vines also have 2 or more clover leaf hearts combinations. See the image from Palazzo Massimo, Rome museum on Ancient Encyclopedia. A relic textile from the 5thC found in the monastery abbey of St. Maurice d’Agaune, Sion (Sitten), Switzerland is described as Nereids, shown riding a fish playing a strings instrument. A small fragment of this piece has 3 separate roundels with ‘Λ Lambda like’ heart crosses encircled & attached by a vine(?), written on the border “Cloth from Alexandria, ca 400s”. Fig. 195- St. Maurice d’Agaune, Sitten, Switzerland textile relic 5thC.992 Photo image credit permission by NYPL 1914-15.993 In Egyptian archaeology many Coptic culture textiles artifacts were discovered around the area of Akhmim in upper Egypt in the 1880’s. One particular linen wool fragment is a Art and Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1921). Nereidenstoff Aus Sitten, Unten Links Rankenstoff Gleicher Arbeit. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-04c1-a3d9e040-e00a18064a99 993 NYPL rights statement http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/ 992 219 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY double band of foliage vignettes that have a consecutive roundel intertwined with heart (some scrolled) leafed crosses that date from the 5th-7thC. Fig. 196- Fragment with Botanical Decoration.994 Gift of Adelaide Goan. Photo image via The Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.995 Probably between the 5th – 7th century in Egypt, is this Inverted Heart/Spade leaf like motif inside an 8-pointed star as a tapestry inserted on a canvas. Twelves leaves are in the roundel, while eight leaves are outside the roundel on the inside corners of the star. The leaves (dotted or scaled) are attached with a stem like foliage and conventily places in cross patterns. Fig. 197- Fabric fragment, Coptic (Egypt). 996 Cropped photo credit MAA © Budapest 2017 NP.997 Fragment band of Hearts vignette A#64.114.272 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/85208 995 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 996 Coptic textile fragment Egypt A#7473 https://collections.imm.hu/gyujtemeny/fabric-fragment/17171 997 non-profit free use http://collections.imm.hu/informacio 994 220 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Another ‘Λ Lambda like’ pink cross (blue outlined) surrounded by red lozenges occurs in a Coptic wool slit tapestry weave fragment dating to 501-700a.d. The chicken appears to have a Lamed shaped wing turn and on the area above its back is an inverted Lamda with an ‘w’ omega(?) or double lozenge in blue. Not shown is a peacock in the upper left corner with ‘Λ Lamdda like’ legs with a very small blue ‘v’ to become a double >Aegean <? Fig. 198- Fragment of Chicken & roundel cross.998 Gift of Martin A. Ryerson through Antiquarian Society. Cropped photo credit The Art Institute of Chicago CC0 1.0 PDD.999 A 6th-9th century Silk fragment of a ‘Vine Lattice with Birds’1000 has two types of medallions centered in a Lozenge border. The 1st is a set of peacocks(?) are back to back with a fountain(?) between them. The 2nd set of Birds are Ducks facing each other in between an active fountain in what appears to be a heart-shaped spout of water. Located on the Lozenge border vignette is a single Fragment 501-700a.d Coptic slit tapestry weave R#1900.396 https://www.artic.edu/artworks/57080/fragment 999 AIC https://www.artic.edu/image-licensing CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 1000 Vine Lattice w/Birds Fragment attributed to Egypt 6-9thC a15.109 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/446819 998 221 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY heart cupped by the vine and the four cardinal corner points of smaller set of hearts crosses (w/center pellet) in a small roundel separating the corners of the next section. A 7th – 8th century fragment textile roundel title is listed as “Multicolored Ivy leaves” is actually a disconnected cross with four hearts all pointing to a middle latin ‘O’[mega] shaped figure presumed to be a 9 beaded flower ΙΧΘΥΣ ‘ ’ monogram or medallion jewelry image. The Byzantine blue hearts have a Lambda Λ ‘Alpha’ with a large Omega ‘ω’ in the middle and a thinner omega ‘ω’ highlighting the bottom of the heart. Taking a 2nd look, the 4 beige, green and gold flower like images besides the hearts appear to be a scrolled Omega ‘ω’ with a ship like ‘double boom’ under a cross that connects to the middle if the ‘ω’. If you count the double Lambdas ΛΛ on the North South points, then there are 8 Alphas and 8 Omegas on the center medallion. On the outer border ‘North & South’ points, it appears to be 3 ‘IH’ (green, white & blue) monograms with a total of 6 and possibly the entire border in blue covered with ‘IH’s in a bow tie affect(?). Does the center medallion also include 16 eye/nazars green pupil with surrounding golden eye? Fig. 199- Roundel with Multicolored Ivy Leaves.1001 Photo credit Harvard Art Museum/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Denman W. Ross 1917 ©. Roundel with Multicolored Ivy Leaves. 7-8thC O#1917.111 https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/213696 1001 222 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY An 8thC textile from Iran or Central Asia ‘Sogdiana’ is a child’s coat with ducks (2 sets of crosses black & white) in pearl Medallions. Barely noticable is another triangular shaped heart coming from the back of the head while the ducks are almost beak to beak in a heart shaped silhoutte. In between the medallions is an interesting cruciform shape with 2 small spade like insertions embedded in the cross on the North and South axis. Fig. 200- Childs coat w/Ducks in Pearls 700's Sogdiana.1002 J.H. Wade Fund. Cropped photo credit CMA CC0 1.0 PDD.1003 Another 8thC item is an Imperial mosaic textile with Lions under an Emperor duplicated (facing each other mirror images) riding lavishly decorated horses has a separate partial fragment of an empress(?) with a heart cross in the background space to the left of her head. Fig. 201- Imperial Byzantine textile 8thC relic.1004 Photo credit by Otto Falke 1913.1005 Childs Coat w/Ducks in Pearl Medallions Iran or Sogdiana 8thC http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1996.2 https://www.clevelandart.org/open-access (CC0) https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 1004 Art and Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1921). Kaiserstoff Aus Mozac In Lyon ; Kaiserstoff In Gandersheim. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-04b4-a3d9-e040e00a18064a99 1005 Falke, Otto V. 1913. Kunstgeschichte Der Seidenweberei pg4 1002 1003 223 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY On the so-called fragment silk shroud of Charlemagne in which he was said to have been buried in d.814 has one large roundel with an image of him being pulled by four horses. The border of this larger roundel had 12 flowers with a large heart coming from the ‘V’ shaped center and the internal ‘V’ is a smaller heart in purple outlined with gold between a wide ‘ω’ omega (?) highlighting the heart. The four smaller 12-sided roundels (pictured below) on the four cardinal points have the same small heart within a larger heart flower bud just outside an octagonal boxed in lambda ‘Λ’ shaped heart cross. Is this 12 sided roundel a proposed repsentation of the the inner Palace chapel of Aachen (Germany) dedicated in 805? Fig. 202- Cropped roundel from Fragment Shroud of Charlemagne ~814.1006 Cropped photo credit permission by NYPL 1914-15.1007 During the same century another tapestry called ‘King Bahrām Gūr Hunt Scene’1008 also has the same identical heart within a heart on rondel border, however in the cardinal positions is a gold cross with purple hearts wedged into the four arms. The Blue-Green Hunt scene was conserved at the Church of Saint-Calais, Sarthe region of France. Two bowmen hunters have purple mantles flowing in the wind. Art and Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1914 - 1915). Byzantine Textiles. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-04bb-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 1007 NYPL rights statement http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/ 1008 King Bahram Gur Hunt scene 9thC Constantinople https://www.qantaramed.org/admin/pics_zoom/1494001%20Suaire%20(site).jpg 1006 224 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Heart Cross Jewelry A 4thC Byzantine heart cross ring formed by a lozenge/diamond inserted into roundel of 17 bordered pellets below the the following inscription ‘ΠOVλ XPHς’or more Greek like as ‘πονλ χρης’ or ‘πθνλ χρης’. The translation doesn’t seem to work in any combination or lettering until its separated in two languages. NOVA (Latin= New) and χρης (Greek=us). When other letter combinations are used for the same Greek alphabet alternative other words are possible. Like so, ‘ΧΡΗΣ’ <-Sigma is the alternative for ‘ς’ used for the ‘C’ and so ΧΡΗΣ becomes ‘Year’. Other translations remove the ‘V’ in ΠOVλ and combine to make the words ‘usefull‘, ‘complete’, ‘made of gold’ and to the closest unmodified word ‘Ponlchris’. Another look and the following appears on the 2nd line ‘XP IHc’, the ‘H’ is struck a little harder on the left side. So, now the incription reads Nova/New XP/Chr[ist] IHC/Jes[us]. Fig. 203- Byzantine Roman Key ring with Inscription 4thC. 1009 Gift of Taylor L. Thompson 2016. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. 1010 The Christies auction house sold1011 a navy-blue heart enameled ring from the 10th century for $10,000 via lot#489. In between the blue-hearts is a ‘X’ shaped green petal(?) which divides the hearts in their cross ‘†’ shape meeting to a centered red dot, although the auctions description is listed as ‘cloisonné enamel rosette’. Fig. 204- Byzantine Gold & Enamel Finger Ring. 10thC a.d. Author Illustr’d from Christies ©.1012 Very few examples exist of this heart cross motif in jewelry, but many in other art forms. So, it’s possible Leo VI did revitalize this image. A portable altar and reliquary of St. Andrew’s sandal ca.977/93 (Trier Cathedral, Treasury) made of Gold, pearls, glass, enamel and precious jewels1013 has at least 25 ‘X’ shaped crosses adorning the long rectangular side of the alter. Four of the ‘X’ shaped Roman Key Inscription Ring with Heart shaped cross 4thC A#2016.805 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/681657 1010 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 1011 Christies auction of Middle Byzantine Blue heart cross ring https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancientart-antiquities/a-byzantine-gold-and-enamel-finger-ring-5004769 1012 Byzantine Gold & Enamel finger ring 10thC a.d. Lot489 https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancient-artantiquities/a-byzantine-gold-and-enamel-finger-ring-5004769-details.aspx 1013 Laska, Peter 1994. Ars Sacra, 800-1200: Second Edition. p96, Plate 132 1009 225 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY crosses are white spades forming the four corners. Two crosses have white clubs with an alternate background of cobalt blue and turquois blue. Six ‘X’ shaped Heart crosses have Garnets pointing to a center round or square jewel. Four of the ‘X’ shaped crosses resemble the (Fig. 139) Nebo pointer with an elongated spear tip. These spear tips pointing to each other are white in a green background of an image like a four-leaf clover. In the treasury of St. Marks basilica in Venice holds an enameled book cover (Christ crucifixion on the front & the Virgin on the back). Barely visible are 4 hearts on the front cover and 4 hearts on the back cover, albeit in the shape of 2 separate crosses each. The Cross of Christ has 2 sets of 4 blue hearts perfectly defined in an ‘X’ cross shape in the corners above Christ head. The Virgin or Mother of God also on a cross with hands held in prayer, has the same size 2 sets of maroon hearts at her elbows, albeit in a ‘t’ cross shape. The artefact is believed to date in the same time period as the ‘Votive crown’ for emperor Leo VI (9th - early 10thC)1014. In the Hagia Sophia between St. John Chrysostom and St. Ignatios Theophoros is a 4 quartered heart shaped cross with the North South portions being Green and the East West arms being Red created in the time of Basil.1015 Fig. 205- Blue Hearts shape of ‘X’ above Christs cross. Maroon Hearts shaped of 't' below Virgins arms of cross. Author Illustr’d from TheMet book 1984.1016 The church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was built in the 4th century by Saint Helena “over the grotto where the Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus”1017. The mosaics are believed to have been updated in the 12th century (before 1187)1018 of which have two alters above the 12 apostle saints. On each alter there is a navy-blue box with 4 hearts in the shape of a cross ‘†’. Horizontally two green hearts have a silver border surrounding the heart with a crude gold arrow inside of the heart pointing at the other hearts mirror image of itself. Vertically two navy-blue hearts replicate the same pattern. Outside of the heart is a silver tear shape pointing to each corner of the heart box enclosure. See some of the restorations of the mosaics @ NPR.org 1014 1015 3 Metropolitan Museum of Art 1984. The Treasury of San Marco, Venice, pg124-6. Hagia Sophia mosaic of church fathers https://hagiasophiaturkey.com/mosaic-fathers-church/#group- Ibid, MMoA 1984. The Treasury of San Marco, Venice, pg124-6. Bethlehem church of Nativity https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2016/02/first-phase-ofbethlehems-church-of.html 1018 Sanctuary Bethlehem, the wall mosaics http://www.bethlehem.custodia.org/default.asp?id=466 1016 1017 226 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY X’s & O’s/XO This motif pattern of X’s and O’s was first located these in the Illumination called ‘Menologian of Basil II’ MS Vat.Gr 1613 ca.1000-25 a.d. on folio156 of the Saints tunic. But the motif may have been produced much earlier via a find in 1985 on East Greek pottery (rim & wall fragment) @ Cyrene, Lybia dating to 580-560 b.c. This location occurs under the deity cult of Demeter & Persephone.1019 Only one figure of a large reddish ‘X’ & ‘O’ appears in all the shards of finds report (1990) from the Island site. A terracotta jug from the Cypriot culture ca.750-600 b.c. is shown with a large ‘X’ centered between ~8 brown and black consecutive ‘O’ circles.1020 A Scythian gold plaque1021 (ca. 400-350 b.c.) of a mounted Scythian holding a spear on his right arm is dressed in a large robe riding a galloping horse. The top half of the robe has abt 19-20 circles or O’s and the bottom half of the robe has 21-22 X’s/+’s in the same random placement. The development of the X’s & O’s in the Christian context occurs much more recent. If you review the borders on the walls of the Hagia Sophia (ca.532-537) western side it appears it’s a motif of X’s and O’s or X’s and Oval diamonds1022 – just an observation from a distance that may have been witnessed for some time and brought back to use in playing cards or in other works of art. The San Vitale church (ca.537-545) at Ravenna has a scene for Abraham entertaining 3 angels of whom have 3 round loaves ’O’ of shewbread(?) with which they are marked inside with a large ‘X’ cross shape baked into the bread. A pair of Gold earrings associated with the Avars ca.550-650 who “were regularly receiving enormous payments from the Byzantine empire (MMoA)”1023, was made resembling a pomegranate with three closed calyx ends with an ‘X’ housed within a gold ‘O’ and gold pellets encircling the symbol. On the globe or pomegranate are 3 large lentoid like diamonds which has 2 smaller pyramids pointing to each other forming an ‘X’ inside. Seperated between each diamond lentoid is the same XO motif. This Egyptian ‘X’ shaped cross dates between 5th-8thC with incised circles in which this same ‘circle & dot’ motif dates back to 1stC dice of the Romans. “The circles may have X’s & O’s East Greek pottery. White, Donald, Schause, Gerald P. 1985. The Extramural Sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone at Cyrene, Libya: The East Greek, Island, and Laconian pottery. pp66-67. 1020 Jug 750-600 b.c. ‘enclosing maltese cross’ https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/240078 1021 Gold plaque of a mounted Scythian. Black Sea Region c.400-350 b.c. State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg https://blog.britishmuseum.org/introducing-the-scythians/ 1022 X’s and O’s (oval diamonds?) motif in Hagia Sophia https://www.pallasweb.com/deesis/history.html 1023 One of a Pair of Gold earrings 550-650 Avar A#17.191.4 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/465086 1019 227 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY represented the reflective qualities of mirrors” (or Nazar, Evil Eye), in “which the Ancient world believed to deflect evil (MMoA)”. Fig. 206- Pendant Cross 5th-8thC.1024 Rogers Fund 1912. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.1025 Another XO’s motif occurs on a fresco image of a ‘curtain’ below Christ being throwned which is below the crucifixion scene in the Theodotus chapel ca.741-752 1026 Santa Maria Antiqua, Rome. This curtain fresco image not only has the XO motif and the spade on a fulcrum repeated in each curtain section on that wall about 7-8 times. The Madonna & child with Church Leadership scene above these motifs is called the ‘Primicerius’ of Theodotus which was the “Latin term primecerius, Hellenized as primikerios (πριμικήριος)” (Gallagher 2016)1027, the title used to the heads of admininstrative departments and church positions. downward in the base of the cross as if it was stakes holding the construction of the cross in place on a rock.1028 Pendant Cross 5-8thC A#12.182.102 https://metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/446229 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 1026 Author Illustrt’n from StefanoRomeTours 2016 https://youtu.be/cBkLveJ6lXU?t=86 1027 Gallagher, George 2016 term Primicerius https://www.flickr.com/photos/re_teacher/28367745712/ 1028 Zucker, Steven 2016. Crucifixion scene Theodotus Chapel c.741-752 Santa Maria, Antiqua, Rome https://www.flickr.com/photos/profzucker/32467621315 1024 1025 228 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Lozenges (Diamonds) These ♦ or turned squares appear more as a secondary or filler/border space image rather than primary focus. This diamond form does appear before the 1st century. Using the monogram discoveries found in other Christian art, the Lozenge/Diamond form in could potentially be 2 Alpha’s/Lambda each other. combined as mirror images or opposite of An ear ring (from Late Classical or Hellenistic period) 4th-3rdC b.c. in the form of a vase with gold filigree or pelleted geometric pyramids and smaller diamonds covers this piece with a round carnelian ball stone coming out from the bottom. Can only be viewed from MMoA search1029. In the late 2nd to 1stC b.c two bracelets (Hellenistic Period) from the Olbia treasure1030 found near Olbia, Ukraine have a border of light green emeralds diamond shapes occurring 6-7 times on each side with a total of ~28 emeralds. On the center piece between the folding clasp of the bracelet is a flat rectangular square piece holding a large ovalish garnet with a gold beaded fleur-delis like motif on each end pointing outward. On each side of the garnet is a vingnette of gold and 2 emerald shaped ivy heart leaves pointing towards each other on either side. Fig. 207- Bracelet from Olbia Treasure 2nd-1stC b.c.1031 Henry Walters 1921. Cropped photo credit The Walters Art Museum CCZ/CC0 1.0 PDD.1032 Earring in the form of vase 4-3rdC b.c. Hellenistic A#24.97.41 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/251501 1030 Ukraine Braceletes Olbia Treasure Black Sea area https://art.thewalters.org/detail/77272/braceletsfrom-the-olbia-treasure/ 1031 Bracelet from Olbia Treasure Ukraine A#VO.59 https://art.thewalters.org/detail/77272/bracelets-fromthe-olbia-treasure/ 1032 CCL https://art.thewalters.org/license/ CCZ/CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 1029 229 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The 1st century site of the Magdala synagogue (Israel) held the ‘Magdala stone’ which was believed to hold the table for reading the Torah scrolls. On the top section probably visible to those who could see it has 4 diamond shaped motifs (Fig. 67) possibly on small pottery holder for burning incense during the reading. On the front side of the stone is a 7-branched menorah (a Judaism symbol) atop a square shaped based with a diamond carved inside with the North and South tips truncated by the edge of the box stand. A mosaic floor pavement1033 near the front of the synagogue has a greek key like border motif with a large diamond in a rectangular square and within the diamond is an 8 petal tear shaped rosette. Each petal is either beige or black having a criss-cross like design housed inside a brown roundel border. A 3rd century Coptic tunic border textile1034 ca.200-300 a.d. has in each corner a quatrefoil diamond (brown, outlined in beige) with only 2 of the four now present. A center medallion has two riders (haloed?) and at least one of them has a Cape flowing below his arms as he is about to throw a rock. Diamond shaped ‘O’s = are inscribed on Greek stelas in early decrees of cities. One particular example is a decree (of Good Luck from Tyche) for the Council & People of Tomis, on the west coast of the Black Sea in the 3rd century. The item 1864.0331.6 is not on display @ the BM.1035 A Merovingian Glass & Garnet (5th-6thC) gold finger ring came up for auction1036 (1999) at Christies which has a diamond shaped bezel with green & blue glass with a gold ‘X’ divider and the outside corners of the diamond bezels has round cabochon garnets which show a cross shape † overall. A 6thC mosaic (ca.531) located on Mount Nebo, Jordan in the Diakonikon Baptistry of the Moses Memorial church has a large interwined diamond border eerily familiar as 1037 facing opposite directions with 2 pellets (omicrons?) in using 2 Alpha/Lambda between. Also, on the right side of the wall is another square mosaic with another two Anahuac, U. (2018, April 14) Mosaic floor in Magdala. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/image/8616/ 1034 Chelsea Art Museum exhibit Italian 2009 http://www.textileasart.com/coptic-textiles-2258.htm 1035 Tomis stela M#1864,0331.6 https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=45949 6&partId=1&searchText=diamond&images=true&from=bc&fromDate=300&to=ad&toDate=300&page=2 1036 Merovingian Glass & Garnet gold ring 5-6thC Lot 116 https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/amerovingian-glass-and-garnet-gold-circa-1520018details.aspx?from=salesummary&pos=77&intObjectID=1520018 1037 Raddato, Carole 2017 Diakonikon Baptistry mosaic https://www.flickr.com/photos/carolemage/39965189534/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/2.0/ 1033 230 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif Alpha/Lambda facing the opposite direction with a large ‘O’ tieing together to form the diamond shape monogram(?). J.S. FRIDAY 1038 the two In a Langobardic disk brooch below there are 8 diamond shaped lozenges in the shape of a cross mounting atop a dome disc separated by 16 ‘S’s and two ‘S’s doubled together appears to be a scrolled heart or spade with curls extended upward. Reviewing the inner circle of 8 combined ‘S’s and in between is another scrolled heart(?)/Omega Ω or crude pointer across from each other in the shape of a cross+. Each of the 8 raised globes diamond has a circle on each corner. Fig. 208- Disk brooch ca.600.1039 Harris Brisbane Dick Fund 1952. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.1040 The Patron saint of Thessaloniki was Demetrios1041 who is shown dressed in a white tunic with burgundy colored ~93 diamond/lozenges on a mosaic1042 with the founders of the church Leonitios (provincial governor) and bishop Ioannis on the basilica walls of Agios Demetrios1043 ca.634-700. A crypt in the church 1045. Is this an inverted Lamda Λ/V basement1044 has this monogram carved in stone over an Aw? For being the patron saint(?), St. Demetrios typically has a large tablion (diamond applique) and many other diamond shapes associated with his image more frequently while comparing other Saint images I’ve seen dated between the 6th and 11th century art. 1038 1039 Author graphic reconstruction of Diamond mosaic Langobardic Disk Brooch ca600 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468388 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 1041 Roisman, Joseph. Worthington, Ian 2011. A Companion to Ancient Macedonia. p561 1042 St. Demetrios mosaic image https://www.orthodoxartsjournal.org/the-pictorial-metaphysics-of-the-iconabstraction-vs-naturalism-reconsidered/ 1043 Basilica of Agios Demetrios ca.634-700 http://www.macedonianheritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/en/img_C233b.html 1044 Saint Demetrios church crypt monogram https://www.flickr.com/photos/bradhostetler/35396758021/ 1045 Author reconstruction of stone monogram 1040 231 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY In an Egyptian (Coptic) tapestry 4 diamonds are placed together with a somewhat highlighted in black ‘X’ for the cross(?) and is repeated 2 times on this fragment. Located in the Walters Art Museum A#83.728 depicts the story of King David. The >Aegean< ‘ ’ is also part of the inscription. Notice the fleur-de-lis border around the main scene? Fig. 209- David Presented to Saul, Egyptian 7-8thC.1046 1977 purchase. Cropped photo credit The Walters Art Museum CCZ/CC0 1.0.1047 1046 1047 David Presented to Saul A#83.728 https://art.thewalters.org/detail/8526/david-presented-to-saul/ CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 232 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY In the Hagia Sophia Alexandor brother to Leo VI is shown with a few interesting mosaics on the arches surrounding his image. The diamond shaped compartment with diamond dotted border holds a bible shaped cover(?) with a green cross shaped flower centered & tears in the corners pointing outwards. Four green hearts pointing in different directions (possibly repaired?) Fig. 210- Emperor Alexander in the Hagia Sophia.1048 Cropped photo credit Brad Hostetler 2011 CC BY 2.0.1049 Alexander Mosaic via Brad Hostetler May 2011 https://www.flickr.com/photos/bradhostetler/8421093473/ 1049 Hostetler, Brad May 2011 Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 1048 233 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Tree of Life (eternal) The tree of life (Hebrew = etz Chayim)1050 is similar and sometimes configured as a palm tree with five, seven, or more branches spread from the top with hundreds of variations throughout many ancient cultures. The palm-tree has pages of ancient connections described by Thomas Inman1051. The oldest artefact for the tree of life maybe the Egyptian sepulchral tablet older than Exodus (~15thC b.c.), held supposedly in the Berlin Museum before 1873. Solomon calls wisdom the tree of life – happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. She is the tree of life to them that hold upon her (Proverbs 3) written between 950-931 or 715-686 b.c.1052 Peter refers to ‘Yahusha’ (Christ) was marked on the cross in which he refers to as a tree (etz)1053. The Mycenaean spelling ponikipi for the “date-bearing” palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera)1054 was easily adopted by the Greeks (φοῖνιξ, phoînix)1055 and “some early Christian writers, Christ was “the Phoenix” (Inman 1875, 129). So, the Palm-tree and the phoenix1056 “became widely used in Christian art as symbols of eternity and resurrection of Jesus” (Kaplan, Michman 2017, 13). The Phoenix is also associated with the purple or crimson dye that is believed to have been used by the Phoenicians (as early as 1570 b.c.)1057 and the Phoenix the mythical Bennu bird is derived from Egyptian mythology1058. This Tyrian (Phoenicia) “land of purple” expensive color is the basis for the royal families “born in the purple” (Porphyrogénnētos) during the reign of their parents. Leo VI son, Constantine VII popularized this 6thC concept in the book ‘De cerimoniis aulae Byzantinae’/ Book of Ceremonies (ca.913959).1059 George Dourus found the four branched tree figure ornamental image refers to the number 5 in greek pottery symbols1060 while the inverted fig/ivy leaf is the number 2. Fig. 211- Tree of Life. Author repainted from various Enamels or Illuminations. The tree of life/palm-tree usually appears in Gold adorned on the robes of the Imperial family in Byzantium, frescoes or illuminations. “Christian history begins and ends with the Etz Chaim https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etz_Chaim or www.cepher.net/what-is-the-aleph-tav.aspx? Inman, Thomas 1875. Ancient pagan and modern Christian symbolism. Palm-trees pp. 45,50,69,81,100,114-5,123,128-129 1052 Intro to Proverbs https://www.esv.org/resources/esv-global-study-bible/introduction-to-proverbs/ 1053 Pidgeon, Dr. Stephen group Cepher Publishing https://www.cepher.net/what-is-the-aleph-tav.aspx? 1054 Satz, Mario 2010. The Living Palm Tree: Parables, Storeis and Teachings from the Kabbalah. p.xv 1055 Phoenix Mythology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_(mythology) 1056 Kaplan, Yosef. Michman, Dan 2017. The Religious Cultures of Dutch Jewry p.13. 1057 Imperial or Tyrian purple https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrian_purple 1058 Greek word for phoenix https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/φοῖνιξ 1059 De Ceremoniis popularized “born in the purple” by Constantine VII, son of Leo VI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Ceremoniis 1060 Douros, George 2018. Aegean, Unicode Fonts for Ancient Scripts. Pg4 1050 1051 234 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY vegetal motif: the tree of life (Gen 2:9 & Rev 22:2)” (Dora 2016, 95)1061. Dora describes Adam’s violation of the Tree of knowledge and how God spoke through the bush (to Adam & later Moses) and how God redeemed ‘Us’ through the life-giving cross (+), ‘the Tree of Life’. Taking a sub-title from Dora, the ‘Tree of Life’ exists in our Moral garden. Another great comparison from Saint Justin, describes “in one tree we are born for sin, and in the other [+tree+] we are born for life” (Rowe 2005, 61)1062. Palm Sunday is still celebrated today as part of Christian writes. The 6th century a.d. (ca.517-518) synagogue of Beth Alpha (Bet Alfa) has a mosaic pavement scene ‘The sacrifice of Isaac’, in which the top border had 9 five branched trees. Four are a golden-brown color and five are a burnt brown color. The Akeida scene had the image hand of God’s presence in this scene. Bet Alfa is located at the foot of the northern slopes of Gilboa mountains nears Beit She’an, Israel.1063 The Egberts Psalter (codex Trier or Gertrudianus) ca.977-993, Folio 8 has the image of a golden tree on the maroon tunic of the Kievan Rus prince ‘Jaropolok’ with the miniatures added between 1078 and 1086.1064 The Trees on Alexios I Komnenos (r.10811118) robe in the Vat.Gr MS 666 f2v appear to have a pointed star shaped on a tree trunk or triangular pedestal. The trees on the previous page f2r and much more robust, almost like Fleur-de-lis sitting on top of the trunk. See the full MS @ Vat.Gr.666 Vatican Library. A Byzantine dress ornament1065 from the 6th-7th century reveals not only the ‘Tree of Life’ motif centered above, but the base of the small tree is ‘heart shaped’ surrounded by 2 peacocks. On the Arch above the Peacocks is the Greek word ‘θΕωΤΟΚΗΒωΕθΙΤ’ of an unknown translation of therapeutic(?)/hospitality(?) and below the peacocks is the word ‘ΙΦΟΡΟΥCΑ’ of an unknown translation of affairs(?)/related(?)/business(?). Most likely the translation is related to Christ &/or the divinity of these motifs. The ‘ ’ is an >Aegean< form, but crested with a small ‘v’ inverted pyramid. This ornament also has a Greek wave vignette lining the border. Two additional squares below the peacocks have 4 fleur-de-lis pointing outward in an ‘X’ shape (in the corners) touching the outside of another diamond shaped within the square. At the very bottom are 2 trefoil (clubs) cross shaped leaf’s vined surrounding a centered cross. Other floral patterns can also be found. Dora, Veronica della 2016. Landscape, Nature, and the Sacred in Byzantium. Pg95. Rowe, Ignacio M. 2005. El árbol bíblico de la conciencia 1063 Beth Alpha synagogue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Alpha 1064 Egberts Psalter Codex Gerturdianus http://www.librideipatriarchi.it/en/egberts-psalter-codexgertrudianus/ 1065 Byzantine dress ornament A#57-547 6-7thC https://art.thewalters.org/detail/17344/dress-ornament/ 1061 1062 235 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Reversed ‘Ƨ’ RS and/or doubled with the standard ‘S’ is possibly an ancient form of Minoan-Greek Cypriot syllabary sign ‘Ƨ’ (=we)1066 linear B form dating from (11th-4thC bce)? The Coptic ϩ’ is the 29 ‘ th letter of the Coptic alphabet1067 (first 24 letters imported from Greek) and the letter name is hori/hôrei pronounced as the letter ‘h’.1068 It also maybe the ancient Greek numeral ‘ϛ’ for Digamma (waw or wau)? The ‘Ƨ’ could also be a modified ‘Z’(Zeta). There is a reference to the number 6 which was an early Christian symbol for Christ by the Greek cleric Irenaeus who died around 202 a.d. The reversed ‘Ƨ’ may also be a throwback from some Hellenistic pottery handles with this shape? The ancient Greek letters sigma (Σ) and tau (T) may have more to do with ligature in the final form called Stigma (Ƨ). Stigma is Greek with the meaning “a mark, dot, puncture” and this writing style of Greek became widespread in the 9th & 10th centuries which is a based on the lunate sigma form C (4th-3rdC b.c.) and the eventually final form of the letter sigma (Σσς)1069 which becomes =’S’. There are also many far-flung beliefs that these S’s are snake symbols for worship tied into Astrology1070. During the time of the Roman Legions which was a government military organization referred to the acronym S.P.Q.R would occasionaly use the letter ‘S’ on rings to denote Senatorial position in the government commonly before the 3rdC. My issue with having a non-Christian symbol thrown into a Christian artefact, is just that! why? The ‘S’ could also be an unusual form1071 of Sigma (Σ S ς) sometimes written as a ‘Z’ shape1072 and ‘S’ found on some roman coins. Further research and found that ‘I’ is a Greek character in art for Jesus, and sigma ‘Σ’ or ‘S’ would be for Savior, or the plural(?) ‘I’ and ‘S’ = Jesus Saves. The reversed ‘Ƨ’ was also used as a fractional Roman Numeral1073 for the fraction of 1/72. In the bible Luke 10:1, Yeshua/Lord appointed seventy-two others, and sent them two-by two before his presence to every place and city where he was prepared to go. Another thought if you take the #2 and remove the 45° turn to continue around as you did too start with the #2, then you have a reversed ), like the two sides of a ‘Ƨ’. In simplistic form the RS is a mirror image of itself ( divided heart of the ancient Sumerian omega form where the both arms of an ‘S’ are attached together facing each other. I would even go so far as to suggest the RS is a Davis, Brent 2010. Linear B Cypriot Syllabary Fig8. Introduction to the Aegean Pre-Alphabetic Scripts. Pg48. 1067 Crum, W.E. 1939. The Coptic dictionary. p631. 1068 Younan, Sameh 2005. So, you want to Learn Coptic?: A Guide to Bohairic Grammar. pp12. 1069 Stigma become sigma https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigma_(letter) 1070 Unknown author http://kahalyahweh.net/Articles/chirho.htm 1071 Sigma unusual form http://snible.org/coins/alphabet.html 1072 Faulman, C 1880. Schriftzeichen und Alphabete aller Zeiten und Völker, Wien. Thompson, Edward M. 1912. An introduction to Greek and Latin Paleography, Oxford. 1073 Reversed S https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C6%A7 1066 236 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY combination of Sion/Zion superimposed over each other. We may never know for sure why it was used, but it’s definitely in the Byzantine tool box for Christian motifs. Sometime after the 3rd century the overline ‘‾’ ‘Nomina Sacra’ expression, became a reversed ‘Ƨ’ positioned horizontally ‘ ’overlining the sacred acronym of the holy word being applied. In Xinjiang, China (Sampul, east of city Hotan) a Greco-Chinese textile called the “Sampul Tapestry” a residual cloth (ca.300 bce-100ce)1074 has the top portion of the fabric with a half-man half-horse galloping through a roundel of 12 quatrefoil hearts rosettes either pink or white with an intersecting dot centered. The Manhorse (Greek Centaur) has a large reversed ‘Ƨ’ behind his head with a mantled cape1075. The bottom half of the has an image of a black haired, blue-eyed man wearing a diadem ‘head band’, holding a spear upright on his right shoulder with a blue, red and yellow rosette covered tunic, possibly created during the establishment of the Seleucid Empire under Alexander the Great. In the same coins of the Graeco-Bactrian kingdom of Diodotus I (r.255-235 b.c.) ‘stater’ coins have an odd piece of cloth hanging from the diadem ‘head band’ with a reversed ‘Ƨ’ intentionally hovering in the air behind Diodotus head.1076 A limestone Lintel possibly made in Syria (Byzantine culture) dated 400-550 a.d. has the Alpha omega with cross being uses as an I or X and the reverse ‘S’ or ‘R’ beside it. (A IƧ w). Typically, this is viewed as chi (X) and rho(r) and the ‘R’ is more commonly defined as a ‘P’ rather than having a reverse ‘ς’ or the leg of the ‘R’ visible. Does this have a double meaning – ‘Christ’ and “Jesus Savior’? I suggest there are three symbols in this one roundel. First is ‘XP’, Second is ‘Aw’ and Third is ‘IS’. See MMoA site search item #468751 or A#69.15 Woolen cloth with a man’s head and horses’ body 300bce-100ce Xinjiang Museum http://masterpieces.asemus.museum/masterpiece/detail.nhn?objectId=12628 1075 Lloyd, Ellen Nov 2018. Sampul Tapestry: Mysterious Silk Road Textile linked to Hellenistic Kingdoms of Central Asia & Tarim Basin http://www.ancientpages.com/2018/11/21/sampul-tapestry-mysterious-silk-roadtextile-linked-to-hellenistic-kingdoms-of-central-asia-and-tarim-basin/ 1076 Diodotus I stater coins http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/baktria/kings/diodotos_I/t.html 1074 237 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A Coptic wool fragment from the 5th-6th century shows the importance of this Christian motif where the black ‘ƧS’ are in a red diamond shaped while standing on point as if a cross is hidden in the positioning. Fig. 212- Band Fragment w/S-Motif Decoration.1077 Gift of the Egypt Exploration Fund. Photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.1078 A Merovingian woman’s gold brooch (ca.7thC) which has 4 glass lozenges which are across from each other; 2 are green and the other are white(clear). It also has 4 round glass cabochons across from each other; 2 are blue and other 2 are reddish brown. Between each glass decoration is wedged a pelta SH (called ‘V scrolls by BM)1079 pointing outward totaling 8. Between the outer glass designs and the inner mother of pearl disc is a middle or second row filled with both ‘ƧS’s totaling 8. The Tassilo Chalice made in Gold, Silver and Bronze has Christ with ‘w’=omega & ‘A’=Alpha, a reversed ‘S’ and an ‘I’. This cup is dated between 768 and 788 ce and made for the Duke Tassilo of Bavaria.1080 A 6th-7thC Italian ‘basket variety’ earring with 8 reversed ‘S’s filigree in a circle around a missing stone. Culturally as Langobardic or Byzantine(?). View this gold item 4651411081 at the MMoA A#17.191.9. A Relief Panel from the End of a Sarcophagus (ca 700-800’s) with a cross within an Arch and two hanging Dble ‘ƧS’ (one on each arm of the cross) which are mirror images of Band Fragment w/S-Motif 5-6thC A#15.451a https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/9187 1078 Brooklyn Museum Creative Commons BY License (CCL) 3.0 Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 1079 Textile Disc Brooch 7thC Merovingian M#1891.109.20 https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=92477 &partId=1 1080 Tassilo Chalice http://everyhistory.org/renaissance1/art%20timeline40.html 1081 ‘S’ border ear ring 6th-7thC A#17.191.9 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/465141 1077 238 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY each other. This Sarcophagus is in the Lombardic migration period1082 to Italy and Rome. Having the Dble ‘S’s specifically hanging from a cross confirms its religious significance. A Northern France or western Germany gold gemmed brooch dating from 650-725 a.d.1083 has a possibly 3x ‘Ƨ’, 3x ‘S’ and 2x (=ro)1084 symbols. These ‘S’s are place around the outside border of a roundel in between round garnets(?) and diamond shaped blue/green topaz(?). In addition, not described is the fact the entire brooch is in the shape of an 8-pointed star with stylistically rounded edges. An 8-pointed star was supposedly for the Seal of Melchizedek from the book of Genesis and he was known as the “king of peace”, and “King of righteousness”1085. He was King of Salem which also means “King of Peace” (Dilling 2007,162). However, the 8-pointed star/seal maybe related to Christianity in some divine form “or for Christ but never for Melchizedek (Gaskill 2016)”. A little later a Lombardic Italian legal manuscript CLXV called the ‘Book of Canonical Laws’ dated first half of the 9th century ca.825 a.d has a folio miniature drawing with Imperial Guards holding round spiral-designed shields while surrounding Constantine I at the council of Nicea 325 a.d.. On these shields in between the spiral is an ‘S’ (Sigma?) shape which has three-dots or triads centered between the spirals. Constantine appears to be holding some small plaque with a ‘’ symbol on it, possible denoting the new Christian homonoia accord & reign(?). Fig. 213- Author Illustr'd shield w/S motif ca.825.1086 AEthelstan was King of the Anglo-Saxons (924-927) and King of the English from 927-939. AEthelstan was a collector of relics and generous donor of manuscripts and those relics to monasteries.1087 He sought to build ties with continental churches, so in 929 he sent his half-sisters to the Saxon court of Henry whose son Otto I, who would be the future Holy Roman Emperor, could choose one of them as his wife. Otto chose Eadgyth (Edith) Relief panel of Sarcophagus 700-800’s http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1920.756 Disk Brooch northern France or western Germany https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464825? 1082 1083 = ro/rho in Linear Cypriot Script ca.1100-400 bce https://linearbknossosmycenae.com/2013/08/13/linear-cypriot-script-ca-11-4-bce-compared-with-linear-bca-15-12-bce/ 1085 Dilling, David R. 2007. Hebrews p162 1086 Manuscript Miniatures BCV MS CLXV Biblioteca Capitolare Vercelli http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4941/14883/ 1087 AEthelstan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86thelstan 1084 239 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY born 910, who became the German queen until her death in 936. Edith was the granddaughter of Alfred the Great (r.871—899). There is much more to read about the interesting life of AEthelstan, however I need to get to his deathbed will of 1014. In his possessions they include a string of horses, eleven swords, a byrnie, silver inlaid trumpet, a bohscyldes (curved shield or bow-shield), drinking horn, etc, etc and a golden cross. He grants Sigeferth the estate at Hockliffe, and a sword, and a horse, and my ‘bowshield’.1088 AN: I don’t believe this is a Loros shield but a typical convex Roman round possibly made of metal. A year after AEthelstans death, CNUT begins his Conquest of England. Eadmund the half-brother of Aethelstan would become king r.941-946. Eadmund curiously has a double RS placed on his coin. There is no explanation available for the reversed ‘Ƨ’ in this handbook of coins in the British Museum. The other image on the East & West cardinal points is referenced as a lis (short for fleur-de-lis) points inward, however in my opinion this could also be a ‘ω’ omega as the center cross beam of a cross. +EADMVND REX an Anglo-Saxon king has two RS’s located on the North and South position of the coin in outside the cross ca.941-946. The other image on the East & West cardinal points is referenced as a lis (short for fleur-de-lis) points inward, however in my opinion this could also be a ‘ω’ omega as the center cross beam of the cross and used as a pointer. Fig. 214- +EADMVND REX coin w/RS outside the cross ca.941-946. Photo credit Grueber 1899.1089 A Byzantine Octateuch (ms Vat.gr.747) created between 1050-10701090, and updated in various folios ca.1139-1150-11521091, and then again extensively repainted by a Paleologan artist ca.12801092. In the ms there are quite a few shields mostly red lines on a white background with a few having some added blue lines. Here is the armor count: 4+ oval, 8+ round and 54+ tear-shaped >kite< shields (all totaling 197). On folio 131v there are 2 men trying to maneuver (a cross?) something on an alter with God’s hand sending fire towards them. The man closest to the alter has a blue and red cloak with AEtheling/AEthelstans deathbead will of 1014 https://aaroncrippsblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/09/theaetheling-aethelstans-deathbed-will-of-1014/ 1089 Grueber, Herbert A. 1899. Handbook of the coins of Great Britain & Ireland in the British Museum. Plate V. 1090 Meyer, Mati 2005. On the Hypothetical Model of Childbearing Iconography in the Octateuchs. p245 1091 Ibid, folio 75r ca1152. Folio 29v ca1150 1092 Kogman-Appel & Meyer 2009, p245 referenced by Hutter (1972) pp140,143-44 regarding folios 22v, 24r24v, 25r 1088 240 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY the upper blue portion having a ‘Z’ (Zeta?) and lower back an ‘S’ (Sigma?) characters in white on his back to shoulder. Most of the Saints enamel medallions produced in Constantinople around ca.1100 have the RS on the end of their name or title for the Greek letter ‘ς’. Example, Saint George (Georgios), Saint Matthew (Matthaios), Saint Paul (Pávlos), Saint Peter (Pétros), Saint John the Baptist (Vaptistís), Saint Luke (Loukás), and Saint John the Theologian (Theológos). See the medallions at MMoA.1093 Saint Peter and Paul were written as PETRVS & PAVLVS in 350 a.d. see A#52.25.1 @ MMoA. Saint Peter and Paul were given the status of Peregrina1094 [Peregrinus] in Rome during the mid300’s. The Madrid Skylitzes MS (ca.1080+) image shown here has the reversed ‘S’ appearing on the doors of the palace protected by Varangian guards. Fig. 215- RS on door in front of Varangian guard shown in the Skylitzes f27/62. ca.1080/1100+.1095 Author penciled color image from various images.1096 The last item is dated between the 10-12th century which is a Reliquary Cross w/Crucifixion scene with Christ held at Doaks on view and online.1097 Above Christ head is the IC Ƨ XC – the IC XC are white with the ‘Ƨ’ being made of Gold while slightly scrolled/curled on the character and double the size of the monograms. Around the border edge of the cross are golden scrolled ‘P’s that seem of they were occasionally connected would become a reversed ‘S’ or standard ‘S’. Is the ‘P’ /Rho (shepherds’ staff) a ligature with the ‘S’ in the ancient past? Also, a surprise, is a very hard to see gold ‘S’ on the belt line center of Christ subligaculum or tunic shorts. Another unidentifiable image is a lamed(?) with bent nail a top. Another possible monogram of Saturn1098 unattributed to any certain group. Medallions of Saints @ MMoA https://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/md/original/sf17-190-670678s1.jpg 1094 Peter & Paul with Peregrina welcoming them into Empire with open arms. MMoA plate A#18.145.2. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/465922 1095 Pevny, Olenka Z, dates this MS from 1150-75. Perceptions of Byzantium and Its Neighbors: 843-1261: the Metropolitan Museum of Art Symposia, pg 67. 2000 1096 Varangian Guard Skylitzis Chronicle https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Skylitzis_Chronicle_VARANGIAN_GUARD.jpg 1097 Doaks BZ.1936.20 dates 12-13thC http://museum.doaks.org/Obj27006?sid=14659&x=46783&sort=76 although Wessel 1967, dates to 1200, pg60. 1098 Mauder, A.S.D 1934. The origin of the symbols of the planets. pSaturn with many sickle forms ‘e.’ being non-atrributed. Pp244-245. 1093 241 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Double ‘ƧS’ The Dble ‘S’ may pre-date the RS, but like any attempt of origin - which came 1st the chicken or the egg? The DblS can sometimes be a mirror image obverse/reverse touching together to become a single Spade-like vine motif or it can be separated by another motif, or the ‘S’ may consecutively switch directions to almost appear like a vignette because of the repetition. In current naming conventions ‘SS’ refers to double Saints as an example of the Church of SS: Sergius & Bacchus, Cyril & Methodius, Peter & Paul, etc.. An ancient Dble ‘SS’ occurs on various cups and ewers with white fish in the “white” color style on a natural pottery background found at Palaikastro, Mochlos and Vassiliki in eastern Crete dating from 2300-1800 b.c.1099 A part of a relief grave stele has a scrolled Dble Ƨ S with a small ivy leaf heart in between and a palmette crown coming out of the top center. The grave stele at Oraiokastro, Thessaloniki with the head of a young child dates second half of 5thC b.c.1100 An Etruscan amulet with a flint arrowhead dates to the 5thC b.c. Something to note, each ‘S’ has a ‘dot’ pellet at the end of the scroll. The second row almost middle has the double ‘S’ motif, while the row above it has a single consecutive rotating ‘S’ pattern. The top section has a 6-petal tear rosette with a dot pattern shaped like a cross. Fig. 216- Etruscan amulet w/arrowhead 5thC b.c.1101 Cropped photo credit Thorvaldesn Museum CC0 1.0.1102 A Crimean gold twisted band ring found at the archalogical site ‘Nymphaeum Necropolis, stone Sepulchre no 23 has a Double ‘S’ gold wire motif on a flat oval bezel which includes a single fleur-de-lis between the S’s pointing outward in the direction of the ring band. The jewelry is dated to the second The Archaeological Museum of Herakleion p47. http://www.latsis-foundation.org/eng/electroniclibrary/the-museum-cycle/the-archaeological-museum-of-herakleion 1100 Grammenos, D.V. 2004 Thessaloniki museum ebook p129 http://www.latsisfoundation.org/eng/electronic-library/the-museum-cycle/the-archaeological-museum-of-thessaloniki 1101 Amulet w/Arrowhead ‘S’ pattern Etruscan 5thC b.c. I#H1861 http://www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk/en/collections/work/H1861 1102 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 1099 242 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY half of the 5th century b.c.1103 The Greek and Scythians were understood to be in this Ukranian Territory during this period. Another Double Scrolled ‘S’ is a 4th-5thC b.c. Celtic ring with a smaller omega motif referred to as a ‘rams head’ (MMoA). On top of the ring is a ‘t’cross looking motif that has the arms separating scrolled ‘S’s in which eyes appear to be in the upper curl of the ‘S’. A possible mouth is formed since the lower ‘S’ is intertwined as the bottom. Fig. 217- Celtic ring 4-5thC.1104 Gift of Josef & Brigitte Hatzenbuehler 2009. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.1105 A Scrolled ‘S’ filigree pair of gold ear rings with the figure ‘Nike’ with open wings sitting and above a gold roundel of a four-petal rosette 4 scrolled ‘S’s circling the flower. This artifact was found from a cemetery of Cassandria Chalcidice, Greece and dates 3rd2ndC b.c.1106 A very early DblS imagery occurs (3x) on an Etruscan bronze helmet1107 dubbed the Montefortino type (a Celtic type) named after the large number of helmets that were found at the archeological site1108 in Italy. This helmet ca.4th-3rdC b.c. also has 3-pointed tear-drop shapes detached pointing towards each other as if this was another form of triskele spiral without the feet. Signet Ring Crimea 2nd half 5thC b.c. I# ГКН.-47 https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/digital-collection/09.+jewellery/934768 1104 Celtic ring 4-5thC b.c. A#2009.532.2 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/478985 1105 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 1106 Ibid, Grammenos, D.V. 2004 Thessaloniki museum ebook p233 1107 Estruscan bronze helmet 4th-3rdC b.c. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/an-etruscan-bronzehelmet-of-montefortino-type-4821576-details.aspx 1108 Deligiannis, P. Helmet types of the Etruscan armies. p3. 1103 243 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A Hellenistic Gold & Agate pair of ear rings from the ca.1st C b.c. went up for sell in a 2012 from Christies auction1109. These ear rings have a large tear-drop shape of garnet or agate pointing downward and hanging from this is an amphora-like jug with a ‘S[]Ƨ’ scrolled handles on each side as if these were in fact pottery in jewelry. The handles are described as “wavy ribbon” handles on the item description. These S[]Ƨ handles are produced on Coptic wool tapestry fragments between the 5th-7th see decorations at BklnM.1110 An Ostrogothic(?) or Early Byzantine(?) (ca.5th-6thC)1111 gold pin/head-dress cloisonné outer border of 14 circles with a garnet inlay with a central round disc garnet. In between the precision gem disc and border are 6 compartments of Dble ‘S’s totaling twelve. The Langobardic disk brooch below 16 ‘S’s and two ‘S’s doubled together appears to be a scrolled heart or spade with curls extended upward. Reviewing the inner circle of 8 combined ‘S’s and in between is another scrolled heart(?)/Omega Ω or crude pointer across from each other in the shape of a cross+. Fig. 218- Disk Brooch ca.600.1112 Harris Brisbane Dick Fund 1952. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.1113 Another brooch almost identical on the outer circle but with precious stones instead of globes is another brooch held at MMoA1114. This dates to the same period but possibly a 1st attempt at this style. This brooch cameo appears to be a Roman chariot equestrian with a Lion(?) pulling the weight instead of a horse. The “Langobards often embellished their own jewelry with gems from Roman or Etruscan craftsmen centuries earlier to link the wearers to the illustrious peoples who preceded them on the Italian peninsula” (MMoA 2018). The 8 count of standard ‘S’ and ‘RS’ are on the outer edge of the brooch, while the inner is hard to determine since many of the letters appear almost as a slightly disconnected (and not meeting in the middle) infinity symbol. Total counts of 1109 Greek Gold & Agate earrings ca1stC b.c. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancient-art-antiquities/apair-of-greek-gold-and-agate-5547034-details.aspx? 1110 Fragment w/Figural & Potted Botanical Decoration A#64.114.256 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/85192 1111 British Museum gold pin / head dress 5-6thC M#1933.0405.10 https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gal lery.aspx?assetId=40476001&objectId=90038&partId=1 1112 Langobardic Disk Brooch ca600 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468388 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 1113 1114 Disk brooch ca.600 w/Cameo ca.100-300 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468993? 244 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY both ‘S’s are 16. The inner circle albeit not quite sure of ‘S’s or figure 8(?)has a count of 27, so the count should have been 24 keeping with the consistent common denominator of 8. Fig. 219- Disk brooch with Cameo ca.600 (mount) 100-300 (cameo).1115 Museum Purchase 1985. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.1116 A Double ‘S’ motif with scrolled hearts between each ‘S’ and mirror imaged on the other half of the bead. Even Though this Anglo-Saxon gold pen is dated between 700900a.d.,however, it looks as if it could be made by the same Etruscan artist (Fig. 216) from 5thC b.c. which PAS also extends the ‘Broad period date range’ back earlier to the 400’s and up to 1066. Fig. 220- Anglo-Saxon pin ca.700-900a.d.1117 Cropped photo credit 2014 PAS via Norwich Castle Museum Trust Attribution ShareAlike 4.01118 & CC-BY-SA 4.0.1119 Disk Brooch w/Cameo ca600, mount 100-300a.d https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468993 1116 CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ 1117 Gold bald-headed pin ca.700-900a.d. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/604703 1118 Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ 1119 Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) 1115 245 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Another possible SH or Double S example is a Gold filigree spherical clasp made between the 2nd half of 8thC-10THC in Indonesia (Java). Pearls are placed in the scrolls and also the loop of an Omega(?) ‘Ω’ symbol. Taking a 2nd view, these scrolled hearts may actually be reversed ‘S’s that are touching only at one end. This item#50417 A#1998.544.450 is not on view, but can be seen at MMoAcws.1120 An Avars Gold slide for a Belt or Strap1121 (ca.700’s) has a mirror image (North v. South) of a Spade with the DblS motif coming out of both top sides of the Spade in opposite directions - with a crude Trefoil or Fleur-de-lis within. Found in Vrap, eastern Albania, part of this hoard had another square gold piece which looks to be a winged Griffin with 25 diamonds as the border motif. A non-identified young Saint with a blue tunic lined with fine gold creases on a medallion ca.1100 has a filigree of 9 RS and 9 Std S’s circling in pattern around the edge of the of the golden artefact. Acquired in Kiev, Russia this was held in Berlin, State Museum, Kunstgewerbemuseum in 1967and an image can be found in Klaus Wessel’s book1122. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Indonesian Spherical Clasp Ornament with Dble S scrolled peltas A#1998.544.450 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/50417 1121 Gold Slide for a Belt or Strap 700’s Avars A#17.190.1683 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464091 1122 Wessel, Klaus. 1967. Byzantine Enamels from the 5th to the 13th century. p93 1120 246 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The Divided Heart The DH is shown as an IH or upright(standard) with a divider down the middle, a derivative of Jewish & Christian Heart symbol. Multiple meanings can be understood for this symbolic imagery. In monogram form the IAω is the pictogram of the divided heart. One of many mentions in the bible, ‘God is close to those whose hearts are broken (repentant) Ps 34.18’. “The last word of the Torah is Yisrael, Israel, which ends with the letter lamed; and the first word is bereishit, meaning “in the beginning,” which begins with a beit. The earliest divided heart or image with a median, sometimes even with a color variation are places closest to the Holy Land. A two-toned (beige & blue/grey) divided heart mosaic tile floor can be found at Shalom Al Israel ‘Jewish’ synagogue in Jericho (Fig. 116) which is understood to date to 450 a.d.1123 Based on the placement of the Minora and Hebrew Inscription in the roundel the heart is placed inverted outside.1124 The next undated (probably before ~550 a.d) artefact is probably a fragment of alter/ceremonial table found in the southern apsed room of the Basilica B Philippi. These three divided hearts in a roundel(?) a designed between the Hagia Sophia design above and the Sicilian bracelet find below. This heart/ivy leaf image with a divider does have a ¼ inch piece of stem remaining which is cut off on the roundel. Trying to envision the complete design it may have been a 6-pointed star or “six-armed cross”, similar to a rosette? Basilica B was a Greco-Syrian compromise1125 even though “Philippi remained essentially a Greco-Roman city (Hoddinott 1963, 191)”. Hoddinott says the style of Basilica B decorations indicates an earlier constriction date than that of the Aghia Sophia (est ~563) and is supported by liturgical arrangements with a date towards the end of the 1st half of the 6th century is likely to be correct. In the 4th-7th century the Syriac Monastery (founded ca.397) called Mor Gabriel (or Saint Gabriel) located on the Tur Abdin plateau near Midyat, Mardin Provence of SE Turkey created a large ceiling mosaic of grape vines (and a border of Spades) presumably due to the wine making produced at the site. In the 6th century many Coptic monks were present there. “The mosaic is attributed to Justinian1126 whose workers completed the work in the early Fifth century” (Johnson 2012, 73) – reign of Justinian was 526-565, Ark of Scrolls and Jericho heart mosaic 450 a.d http://www.bible.ca/synagogues/ark-of-the-scrollsJericho-mosaic-Hearts-symbols-Torah-shrine-aedicula-niche-wooden-cabinet-stone-covenant-Mosesancient-synagogue-architecture-worship-Rabbinic-Judaism-Pharisees-archeological-photo.jpg 1124 Jewish heart inverted outside of Minera & Inscription http://www.jewishjericho.org.il/english/thoughts/VisitingTheCityofJericho-en.html 1125 Hoddinott, R.F. 1963 Early Byzantine Churches in Macedonia and Southern Serbia. A Study of the Origins and the Initial Development of East Christian Art. p.191. see image http://macedonia.kroraina.com/en/rheb/rheb_3_2.htm#s19 1126 Johnson, Dale A. 2012 Barhana Monographs Volume 2, pg73. 1123 247 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY the 6thC. Even thought the Spade image if nearly the same color, there is a slight shift between a lighter color and a darker color from the center meridian (Fig. 150). The Spade leaf motif appears to have made it to Ciqikou, Chongqing, China before the 9th century as a Persian “scrolled leaf” modification with center engraved crosses.1127 This is believed to be the oldest mosaic (ie,. Christian?) in the Middle East.1128 The earliest known Byzantine reference maybe a double heart bracelet jewelry of which the divider turns into another miniature gold heart ca.650. MmoA lists this item description as a “Large opus interrasile openings outline ivy leaves on this bracelet” So, a heart within a heart and vertical is a mirror image of another double heart replicated in the opposite directions. Do these hearts not look like the external character shape of an ‘Ω’ Omega? This item was found at Mount Pantalica, Sicily in 1903. See MMoA item 468419 A#52.76.1. Fig. 221- Gold bracelet ca.650 Byzantine.1129 Gift of Alastair Bradley Martin 1952. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD.1130 Located on a Saxon king Coenwulf coin there are four divided hearts Aw on the arms of cross in roundel ca.796-821. See (Fig. 53) photo Image earlier in book, credit British Museum 1887.1131 See Dale Johnson’s book or website http://www.soc-wus.org/2012News/11132012122317.htm Sue’s Trukish Adventures 2012 blog http://suesturkishadventures.com/steeped-in-tolerance/ 1129 Gold Bracelet Byzantine ca.650 A#52.76.1 found on Mt. Pantalica, Sicily in 1913 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468419 1130 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication 1131 Keary, Charles Francis 1887. A catalogue of English coins in the British museum. Anglo-Saxon series. Vol 1 Plt VIII 1127 1128 248 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Back in Boeotia, Phocis, Greece (near Distomo) the ancient monastery of Hosios Loukas (St. Loukas of Stiris) in the narthex west wall is a veneration mosaic of Constantine I and Helena or St. Helena (Catholics on August 18th) the mother of the Emperor together holding a ‘Patriarchal Cross’ ‡. Helena was born ca.246/50 and died 327/330. She is the same Helena that went on the Holy Places tour in her 70’s (326-328.a.d) to find the “True Cross” in Palestine. “Constantine her son has a male thorakion belt with 4 two-tone divided hearts pointing outwards on the four corners.1132 The Bulgarian Empire (Bulgars) settled in the Balkan peninsula (entire area east of Italy) in the 5th century. Conflicts began with expansion of the empire after 680 a.d. and continuing up to the late 11th century1133. This heart pendant made in Constantinople in the form of a split/divided heart is also the mirror image of a >Loros/Thorakion< shape shield – the same imagery of Byzantine Empresses or Saints. The dichotomy of the heart pendant is distinctive by showing the symbolism of two parts in this time period. Fig. 222- Left, 23k gold enameled heart ca.927-966 Veliki Preslav, Bulgaria. Right, believed to be the correct IH position of jewel appliqué for empress’s dress. Author Illustr’d from Prof Stoycho Bonev photo.1134 The Jewel clothing decoration appliqué is believed to have been belonged to Tsaritsa (Empress) Maria ‘Irene’ Lakapene (daughter of Christopher Lekapenos), a Byzantine Noble, who married the Tsar Petar/Peter I (r.927-969) in 927. “The speech that marked the peace of 927 with the Bulgarians identified Leo VI as ‘the peaceful and wise Solomon’”(Tougher 1997,131). Peter was the son of Simeon I the Great (r.893-927). Unlike Peters father, Simeon whose army annihilated 60k Byzantine troops in the 917 battle of Achelous / Anchialus, Peters reign was a peaceful period and dedicated his reign to Christianity, the Bulgarian Orthodox church and Bulgarian culture. “For this he was Cropped image of Constantine’s belt https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hosios_Loukas_(narthex)_-_West_wall,_left__detail_03_(Constantine_and_Helena)_02.jpg 1133 Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine%E2%80%93Bulgarian_wars 1134 Shumen Office of the Bulgaria Academy of Sciences http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2016/10/15/10th-century-golden-heart-jewel-worn-by-bulgarianempress-discovered-in-medieval-capital-veliki-preslav/ 1132 249 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY canonized as a saint by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (Stoycho Bonev 2016).” So, even though this heart is believed to be “up right” as indicated by the Archaeologist photo describing the find, this is still an IH imagery in Byzantium especially being in the 10th century after the passing of Leo VI. Sometime in the 11th century Empress Zoe & Monomachus are in a mosaic located at the Hagia Sophia (in Instanbul) with Christ. Notice the heart shapes split in half with 2 different colors – is this a representation of male/female or both sides of my heart belong to GOD? Or Red as Erotas love and Green as Agape love? Could be endless symbolism. Fig. 223- divided heart bible held by Christ mosaic Hagia Sophia.1135 Cropped photo credit David Spender 2009 CC BY 2.0.1136 Irene of Hungary1137 (1088-1134) a Byzantine Empress consort has a mosaic (dated 1118?) in the Hagia Sophia (in Instanbul) and the dress has a blue and brown complete heart shaped image with a small white pyramid shape in the middle. Maria of Antioch is also in an illumination with a jeweled shield beside her husband Manuel I Komnenos (r.1143-1180). Hearts have straight sides on edges of bible Spender, David July 26, 2009 https://www.flickr.com/photos/dspender/4516233613/ AttributionShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 1137 Irene of Hungary Byzantine Empress Consort https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_of_Hungary 1135 1136 250 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Thorakion Half Heart Shields The Thorakion (θωράκιον) is a section of the Loros (λῶρος) garment, a scarf, shaped like a shield (or half heart) and studded with precious stones, worn attached to the belt by Byzantine empress’s dress. The shield section started around the mid section of the body and pointed to the right side or foot of the empress. It is synonymous with Sagion/ saghion (lat. Sagum) which was worn by emperors during official exits/leave from the palace. In the book De Caerimoniis (book of Ceremonies), Sagion/Thorakion is recorded as sagia1138. Researchers believe the >Thorakion< is put on in the Daphne apartment during Easter Sunday. Presenting in the palace ceremony, the imperial costume represents the position as “GOD’s Regent on Earth” before his (or her) subjects and the empires place in the world before foreigners.1139 On a side note, the garments could almost appear as a half-heart shaped as if to subtly say without this half “the Empress”, the Emperor would NOT have a successful reign or marriage over the Empire. The >Regents< shield another possible name for this armor/shield? Technically the “Thorakion” name should be identified by the word “Loros” which dates back much further than Thorakion into the 7th century with Justinian II. The Thorakion name was “mistakenly identified with the term thorakion”1140 during the extensive research of Guillaume de Jerphanion (1877-1948) in his 1930 book “Le Thorakion” Caracteristique Iconographique du XIe Siecle. I will continue to use Thorakion for the newness of the name, just like so-called Kite-shaped name was mis-used to define the Saints/Thorakion/Loros shields since no other names were identified, classified or found to this shield in the English/Norman or Byzantine/Greek languages. Fig. 224- Kyrikus frescoe in St. Maria Antiqua ca.741-52. Author Illustr'd cropped image from Zucker 2016.1141 Possibly the earliest Thorakion shield appears in the Santa Maria Antiqua, Rome church ca.741-752 on only one person (out of 27+ who have this rounded Loros) named Bellinger, Alfred Raymond 1999. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection: 1081-1261 ; Pt. 1, Alexius I to Alexius V : 1081-1204. Vol. 4, Alexius I to Michael VIII, Volume 1; Volume 4, pg 156. 1139 In the Prefaces to Books I & II of the De Cerimoniis: Cr Reiske I,3,-4,2 and 517,13-18; Cer Moffat I,3-4 & II,517. 1140 Dawson, Timothy 2015, pg88. By the Emperor's Hand: Military Dress and Court Regalia in the later Romano- Byzantine Empire 1141 Zucker, Steve 2016. Santa Maria Antiqua, Rome wall of Madonna & Child https://www.flickr.com/photos/profzucker/32427291396 1138 251 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY as ‘little Quiricus’ Κυρικυς (=Kyrikus, Cyricus, Cyriacus, Quiriac, Kirik or Cyr) the very young son of Julietta who is standing by the donor Theodotus.1142 The crème colored shield is positioned on the right side of his body to his chest level similar to the Empress shields of the 10th century and later. Does being youth martyred & being killed at an innocent age correlate to this tear shield symbology? Leo VI called ‘The Wise’ or ‘the Philosopher’ or ‘Sophos and Pansophos’1143 reigned as Byzantine emperor August 29th 886 through May 11th 912.1144 Leo was the 2nd emperor of the Macedonian Dynasty. Leo was the son of Basil I, although much debate has been made of this. Leo’s mother Eudokia Ingerina (b.~840) may have been the daughter of Inger1145(Igor / Ingvarr) a Varangian guard (‘of Rus descent’) in the emperor’s service. Mango postulates this due to Eudocia possibly being fair-haired Scandinavian and Inger possibly being related to bishop Inger of Nicaea ca.825.1146 Leo was in his own time identified as being mild (praos) and “peaceful (eirenikos)” as his very name means. In the First Parainesis, Basil states that Leo will be called the son of the heavenly emperor through spirit by being ‘a student of the mild and peaceful Christ’, citing Matthew 5:9; ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God’.1147 This virtue connects the Old Testament model of Solomon, David’s son. Many more examples of Leo’s wisdom are noted by the following authors: Dragon, Kartsonis, Jenkins, Tougher and of course the writings (First Parainesis, Life of Theophano, Life of Euthymios, Life of Constantine the Jew, Taktika, Basilica, Poems & Hymns (Barb.gr.302) etc..) in Leo’s own time. Even though Leo may not have actually sung a song, he wrote a set of hymns called ‘Come ye people, come adore Him’ translated by Brownlie1148. Would Leo still be the Psalmist, a man after God’s own heart? The “Rome or David casket” (from Palazzo Venezia) of Ivory is dated ca.898/900 a.d.. The casket has many scenes of David’s birth, David fighting a Lion, David fighting Goliath, David being anointed, escaping Saul, beheading Goliath, David’s coronation and receiving showbread which appears split in the shape of a heart(?). The Ivory Casket is believed to be a wedding gift from donors to Leo VI and his third wife, Eudokia Baiane as Anthony Cutler and Nicolas Oikonomides have maintained.1149 Both Leo and his Wife are adorned with the same square tile shapes on their >thorakion< as the St. Eudokia has on her >thorakion< loros shield funerary plaque ~907. David started what Hodges, Richard 2016 describes characters by Enthroned Virgin & child https://www.academia.edu/31682141/Santa_Maria_Antiqua 1143 Tougher, Shaun 1997. The Reign of Leo VI (886-912): Politics and People. Pg 111 1144 Leo VI the Wise https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_VI_the_Wise 1145 Mango, Cyril, 1973. "Eudocia Ingerina, the Normans, and the Macedonian Dynasty," Zbornik radova Vizantoloskog Instituta, XIV-XV, p17-27. 1146 Garland, Lynda 2007. Eudocia Ingerina, wife of Basil I http://www.roman-emperors.org/EudInger.htm 1147 Patrologia Graeca 107, xxxxv 1148 Brownlie, John 1900. Δεῦτε λαοὶ, τὴν τρισυπόστατον θεότητα προσκυνήσωμεν = Come ye people, come adore Him. https://hymnary.org/hymn/JBHGC/60 1149 Cutler, Anthony & Oikonomides, Nicolas. 1988 Anthony Cutler and Nicolas Oikonomides, "An Imperial Byzantine Casket and Its Fate at a Humanist's Hands," Art Bulletin,LXX, no. 1, 1988, 77-87; 1142 252 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Solomon finished as the Golden Age of the Jewish kingdom. Unlike Leo’s father Basil who attempted to convert the Jewish, Leo had annulled the forced Baptism decree issued by his father1150. During the spring of 900 the emperor sent an army into Emirate if Tarsus to overwhelm the army and thus capture its emir. “Leo persuaded an Armenian princely family to enter his service and to cede their principality to the empire”.1151 Thus, sometime in this period Leo is responsible for re-starting the role of the martyr ‘warrior’. Leo made this new first eastern acquisition of his reign into a new Theme of Mesopotamia. Leo also started adding the ‘Mother of God’ and ‘Mother of God with Christ child’ to coins during his reign and quotes his writings to that of Strategikons “battles are won under God, by strategy and skill”1152. Leo was a widower and still lacked a male heir - the church condemned third marriages, while his brother Alexander who was plotting against Leo for the throne. A patriarch Anthony of the church allowed Leo to marry a third empress, the beauty of Eudocia Baeana. However, shortly thereafter Eduocia died while giving birth to a son who also died in 901. Leo would take a mistress (name Zoe Carbonopsina “Coal Eyes”) due to the newest patriarch Nicholas Mysticus advising a 4th marriage would be worse than fornication. In the Hagia Sophia a fresco dating to the 9th century has Leo performing proskynesis (act of homage, penance/repentance) to Christ holding a Greek script “Peace be upon you. I am the light of the world”. Did Leo understand this verse (‘God is close to those whose hearts are broken (repentant’)) more than others? This, I see as a change occurring in the inverted heart/Alphaomega motif to the right side of the heart or right side of Aω. This quote may provide some insight - While Leo was exploring a location to build a monastery for Leo’s spiritual Father ‘Euthymios’ (834-917)1153, the monk exclaimed about the pre-existing church where Kosmas and Damian had been dedicated, “It is right, sire to obey your orders and receive your decisions as emanating from the will and providence of God.” “For the king’s heart is in the hand of God (Tougher 1997, 121)”. In Early 901, a Syrian fleet sacked the port of Demetrias in Greece and the Sicilian Arabs sacked Rhegium (Reggio, Italy) driving off a Constantinople fleet. Leo VI sent two expeditions east that year. “The first, led by the Armeniac’s strategus Leo Lalacon, expelled the Arabs from part of western Aremenia (Treadgold 1997, 466)”. This is the seal of Leon Lalacon, Duke of Armenian (contingents) whose Porphyrogéniète told us the exploits against the Saracens in Chapter XLV of the Book of the Administration. This seal tells us that Leon Lalacon was also wearing the high dignity of Curopalate title. He was the leader of the Armenian theme in 9011154, not 986. Inscription on the Obverse Leo VI by Jewish Virtual Library https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/leo-vi-x00b0 Treadgold, Warren T. 1997. A History of the Byzantine State and Society 1152 Leo VI, Leonis VI Sapientis, p.17. White, Monica 2013, p.55. 1153 Euthymius I of Constantinople https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthymius_I_of_Constantinople 1154 Warren T Threadgold corrects the 986 date incorrectly associated with this seal. 1150 1151 253 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY “Δεμετριοσ” = Demetrius. The inscription on the reverse “Lord, help your servant Leon Lalacon, Curopalate and Duke of Armeniaques.” Fig. 225- seal of Leon Lalacon with St. Demetrius on the face ca.901-906. Image credit Gustave Leon Schlumberger 1884. Quite a few documents put this theme of Armenians in 986 while also dating the exposition of Leo VI which occurred before he died in 912. Question: Is this the earliest saint shield with a >Loros/Thorakion< shape? A: It appears to be a hybrid of both the round shield (side view, no pointed boss) & the so called >kite< shaped shield (rounded top, pointed bottom), as if this seal maker wasn’t exactly sure how to handle the new shield shape on the die & slight numismatic change. During Leo’s reign the shield motif takes a different path of being inverted to being split among the sexes of the Saints. The Female saints are presented with the right shielded >thorakion< side of the heart on the right side of their body, while the male Saints (or Holy warriors) show the shield positioned on their left side of the body. This distinctive positioning is not only in the frescoes, but in seals (bullae) and manuscripts. If you review the 10th century collections at Doaks, the shields are represented two ways. A. a Saint standing (full body shot) with a round oval shield side view with a pointed boss. B. Saints (bust, chest & head shot),’not standing’ with the top portion of an eye shaped shield or rounded shield. This seal above appears to the be 1st >Saints< shield in the soon to become popular form of the >Loros/Thorakion< conquest shield series. An interesting find in the Treasury of Basilica San Marco, Venice, Italy are 3 peacocks on top the votive crown of Leo VI, the 254 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY ‘train’ of feathers have 6 blue (a few missing) colored >ovate< shaped shields imbedded in the peacock’s tuft of feathers. Fig. 226- St. Eudokia Imperatrice mosaic plaque ca.907 @ monastery Constantine Lips (Fenaria Isa Camii), Istanbul, Turkey. Author Illustr’d from various images +Jerphanion 1930.1155 HAΓΙA ΕΥΔΟΚHΑ (Saint Eudokia) the inscription beside her head. Different colored stones are embedded into the marble to create Byzantine colors of an Empress. Her thorakion which is attached to the girdle is in the shape of an early right half >heart< shaped shield. The Monastery of Constantine Lips has a long history and was renamed Church of the Virgin. The church was renovated by Constantine Lips, a dignitary at the court of Leo VI.1156 There is debate on which Eudokia this actually was and the timeline of the curved plaque. Gerstel (Sharon E J) argues the thesis1157 that Leo VI commissioned the plaque for his 3rd wife Eudokia Baïana (Baïana = Βαϊανή) but the marriage in 900 was not sanctioned by canon law. Gerstel goes on to say on her death (April 13th) there was no church commissioned for an honorable funeral, so Leo honored her by placing the (opus sectile)1158 plaque made in an imperially Jerphanion, Guillaume de. 1930. Le Thorakion Caracteristique Iconographique du XIe Siecle. Other images http://www.thebyzantinelegacy.com/lips , https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saint_Eudocia_Intarsia_Istanbul.jpg 1156 The Glory of Byzantium: Art and Culture of the Middle Byzantine Era, A.D. 843-1261. 1997 1157 Gertstel, Sharon E.J. Saint Eudokia and the Imperial Household of Leo VI in The Art Bulletin (). 79:4 (1997): 699-707 . 1158 Sharon Gerstel describes the Inlaid marble technique used on the plaque. 1155 255 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY favored building project (Church of Constantine Fig. 227- Left, Saint Eudokia >Thorakion< mirror image as an inverted heart. Right, Eudokia >Saints< shield mirror image of itself in the form of a >heart<. Author Illustr’d from Wikimedia.1159 Lips) on which it was inaugurated in 907. She was laid to rest in the mausoleum of the Holy Apostles on April 13th. Leo elevated her to Holy without formally granting sainthood1160. But this was not the only saint’s dedication – Leo also had churches built for Sts Zoe and Theophana1161. Leo at 41 years (in 907) and finally having a child as heir apparent (Constantine VII) with a new wife also provided a stone plaque memorial to his late wife 7 years later. I say, would we think of doing this today if we were in Leo’s shoes? Did Leo have this half-heart design created as a symbol of a >Repentance<, >Divided< heart or >broken heart< shield? Was Leo following the same path as Solomon taking on too many wives, albeit not at one time; but the fact he is working on a 4th wife? One thing is very clear, is Leo positioned the shape of the heart right side-up. The Plaque of Saint Eudokia is now held in the Istanbul Archeological Museum. **Notice her thorakion is beautifully gemmed as if this was her official exit from the palace. See the public domain image of Eudokia Baiana found on Wikipedia. So, in conclusion Leo and his father Basil I, begins a renaissance of fresh illuminations referencing ancient Bible figures like Solomon, Ecclesiastical church building, injects Saints into the strategies of Holy conquest, calls up old saints & begins some new ones, Fenari Isa Mosque mistakenly shown as Aelia Eudoxia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenari_Isa_Mosque Gertstel, Sharon E.J. Icon Saint Eudokia http://www.monasticmatrix.org/figurae/icon-saint-eudokia. Contributor Dina Boero 1161 White, Monica 2013. Military Saints in Byzantium and Rus. Pg121 1159 1160 256 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY updates writings of warrior strategy, while spinning off the ancient heart motifs under the regarded era of former Macedonian kings. Question: Did the Byzantines know the true shape of the heart? A: I believe they did at this point and Leo used the AlphaOmega or inverted heart shape by turning it around via the preferred “right” side of God, or the “right hand of our Lord”. Leo may have also envisioned ½ of the heart/shield as the female Saint personified >Mother of God< or the Virgin Mary’s birth through the Holy Spirit to produce the >Alpha & Omega<. The Shield also personified as the ‘right hand’ of GOD, and who would be applicable to possessing this title, but the Imperial “>Regent for God on Earth<”!!!!! When we join the first and last letters of the Torah, we have lev, the Hebrew word for (the Jewish) heart (Sara E Crispe 2006).”1162 There are so many ways to describe this symbolism – Face to Face, Learn & Teach, heart & mind, body & mind, eye to eye, body to body, soul to soul, mind to mind, and the Torah scroll “end is wedged in the beginning, and the beginning in the end”. Ancient Greece and Rome recognized the heart and linked the myths of Aphrodite and Eros (Roman = Venus & Cupid) by the distinction between erotas (romantic love) and agape (spiritual love)1163 – “which seem to form the underlying basis of the two trends of secular romantic and chivalrous love – and religious or spiritual love, as we shall see (M Elliot, Dr. V Shrimplin 2017)”. This new heart motif spin-off which is applicable to and after Leo VI’s period is found in a 23k gold Jewelry applique enameled heart ca.927-966 found at Veliki Preslav, Bulgaria. This occurs in a few mosaics and some same period jewelry, typically with a heart image in two-toned colors divided as in Christ and his bible between Emperor Constantine IX and Empress Zoe Porphyrogenita probably dated mid 11thC. However, if the Eudokia plaque ca.907 being a half-heart applies to this dichotomy, then this would be the earliest form of a split heart since the other side is not present in the form. So, since this image occurs mostly from Leo VI revival of various heart motifs, I believe this divided heart is symbolic for Solomon’s divided heart; the same ecclesiastical pressures Leo exuded during his reign as king/emperor. In the same period (10thC) the Paris Psalter (MS.gr.139) was supposedly created and in this Byzantine illumination immediately at folio2v, David is defending his flock from a lion (as stated in 1 Kings 17,34)1164 while an Angel titled ICXYC(=Strength1165) behind him has a green cape helping assist David with an arm to his right side. The manuscript has green The Jewish Heart - The Secret of Elul, Sara Esther Crispe. 2006. https://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/424441/jewish/The-Jewish-Heart.htm 1163 Elliot, Martin. Shrimplin, Dr. Valerie 2017. Affairs of the Heart: An exploration of the Symbolism of the Heart in Art. https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/affairs-of-the-heart-an-exploration-of-thesymbolism-of-the-heart-in-art 1164 Dippippo, Gregory 2017. The Paris Psalter http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2017/02/the-parispsalter.html#.XBUl1cR7ncs 1165 The Greek Elements. 1971 Concordant Publishing. ICXYC meaning Strength p98. 1162 257 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY and blue waves on the border of the illumination while 2 little vines come out of each section attached to ~80 divided hearts of blue/green.1166 There are many Rus/Russian connections to Bulgaria. Yaroslavs father, Vladimir Sviatoslavich (r.980-1015) the Primary Chronical notes he has two other sons Boris and Gleb (who became Rus Saints) by a liaison with a Bulgarian woman1167. However, this has been argued this maybe his Byzantine wife Anna Porphyyrogenita (r.989-1011). Just slightly before the turn of the millennium, we find another seal during the reign 969-976 of Byzantine general and emperor John I Tzimiskes b.925 a.d. translated from French (Schlumberger 1896, 28-29): “The ascetic Theodore of Coloneus was appointed Patriarch of Antioch by Jean[John] Tzimisces to replace Christophoros killed at the capture of this city by the troops of Nicéphore Phokas. It was consecrated on the 8th of January, 970, by the patriarch of Constantinople, Polyeucte, who died twenty days later.” “An incident occurred almost immediately afterwards, concerning an appointment to a vacant ecclesiastical siege, which, although we are only very briefly informed by Leon Dacre, happily throws light on what had become of at this moment the power of the Church, thanks to the energy of her old leader. Since the tragic death of the holy Patriarch of Antioch Christophoros, who was killed with a spear at the capture of this city, by a furious Saracen [Sarrasin] emir for his alleged betrayal, the great Christian city of the south recaptured by the orthodox arms, remained without a pastor.” One of the first services of the Basileus Jean was to fill this very important vacancy. His long-meditated choice had finally come to pass, a curious thing which paints this bizarre epoch, on a simple Asiatic hermit, Theodore of Colonium, a religious to whom at that time an extraordinary asceticism had earned a real celebrity. He was one of those pious solitaries with an iron body and soul, endowed with incredible energy, such as the Greek Church has produced so much. Delivered from infancy to the exercises of the most austere piety, this holy man who had completely tamed his nature, portrayed in winter and summer as a single garment of animal hair, under which he concealed as a perpetual penance a heavy iron belt of which the enormous weight incessantly tortured his bruised flesh. Never did he leave one of these rude clothes until the weather had reduced it to such a point that his nakedness remained uncovered. Formerly the public voice, he had, in one of those prophecies of which he and his like were familiar, predicted the empire to Nicephorus Phocas. He had predicted it also to Jean [John] Tzimisces. Above all, it was said he had urged him to wait patiently for the moment when he could reach the imperial omnipotence without defiling himself with a dreadful crime, warning him on the part of God that if he listened on the contrary the voice impatient of his ambition, he would at the same time advance the end of his days, and David defending flock from Lion. Paris Psalter ms.gr.139 folio2v https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10515446x/f8.item 1167 Ostrowski, David. 2003. An interlinear Collation and Paradosis, line 805-6 1166 258 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY recommend him for the rest to rely on the Almighty, who would be able to place him in the highest rank at the time that he deems fit. Skylitzes and Zonaras even add that the venerable ascetic had summoned the future basileus to signal the reign he thus predicted by delivering the empire of the impure sect of the Manichaeans. It was the Paulic heretics of Theodosiopolis and Melitene whom he designated in this way. Having become very numerous, although having lost all material power since the terrible executions of Theodore and Basil I, they were more than ever ridding the religion infecting all the provinces of Asia with their "fatal and detestable" doctrines, pacting with the Hereditary Muslim enemy. Theodore of Colonne had adjured John to deport them to some deserted territory where they could no longer harm.” Fig. 228- Left, Bust of St. Theodore for Théodore de Colonée Jan 8th, 970. ΘΕΟΔΩPω ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΗ ΘΕΟΎΠΟΑΕΩϚ ΜΕΓΑΛϞϛ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΙΑς Illustr’n credit C.E.Ruelle 1900.1168 Right, Interpretive Illustr’n of >half heart< shaped shield. “LEAD BUBBLE or small seal of the Patriarch of Antioch Theodore of Colonial consecrated on January 8, 970 by the Patriarch of Constantinople Polyeucte.” ΘΕΟΔΩPω ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΗ ΘΕΟΎΠΟΑΕΩϚ ΜΕΓΑΛϞϛ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΙΑς translated to ‘THEODORE PATRIARCH THEMES GREAT ANTICHEIA[Antioch]’. Continuing in the Macedonian family Dynasty in and about the year ca.1000 a.d in the Byzantium Empire the illuminated manuscript called “The Menologian of Basil II” was compiled/commissioned in Turkey for Emperor Basil II (Vasilios II) who ruled (r.975-1025). It’s a Book of Saints, Martyrs, Confessors, Hierarchs, Ascetics, a liturgical book of Orthodox church created by 8 artists. It’s listed in the Vatican archives as Vaticano Greco MS 1613. Ihor Ševčenko an author and researcher date the manuscript1169 between 1001 and 1016, based on the evidence about Pantaleón in Vita de S. Ruelle, Ch.-Em, 1900. Revue des études grecques, Volume 13, pg 473.Also Schlumberger, G. L 1896. Jean Tzimiscès. Les jeunes années de Basile II le tueur de Bulgares (969-989)- 2. ptie. Basile II, le tueur de Bulgares [989-1025]- 3. ptie. Les porphyrogénètes. Zoé et Théodora (1025-1057), PG 28. 1169 Menologian of Basil II manuscript. Library of Congress http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2015156479.html 1168 259 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Atanasio Atonita (Saint Atanasio the Atonite (920 -d1000) a Byzantine monk. On a few pages there are round shields (pages 62, 212, 241, 281, 316) viewed to the side, an Oval shield (pages 62, 215, 383) of a warrior Saint(?) and Theodora II (816-867). Empress Theodora has an inverted heart either scrolled or vined in brown on her purple dress. In the Skylitzes illumination folio 44v the daughters of Theodora are being instructed in the veneration of the icons by their grandmother Theoktiste. Jerphanion wrote about the “Thorakion’ or Collenberg who updated the “Le Thorakion” writes (pg 279) that S. Der Nersessian dates this manuscript to approximately 986 rather than 1000-25. In the illumination manuscript the shield shape is still a half-heart and not yet a rounded tear shape as it appears in the illustration, but more like the shield reconstruction on the right. Fig. 229- Left, Empress Theodora wife (d.867) of Emperor Theophilus in 830. ‘Menologian of Basil II’ MS Vat.Gr 1613 f392, ca.1000-25 a.d. Right, Reconstructed Theodora’s >Thorakion< shield from various images.1170 Author illustr’d from Jerphanion 1930/Collenberg 1971 & others.1171 Menologian of Basil II MS Vatican Greek 1613 https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.1613 Jerphanion, Guillaume de. 1930. Le Thorakion Caracteristique Iconographique du XIe Siecle. & Collenberg, Wipertus H. Rudt de 1971. LE <<Thorakion>> Recherches Iconographiques. http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/en/img_D26k.html 1170 1171 260 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Left to Right Folio pages 2X f62, f212, f215, f241, f281, 2x f316, f383, f392. Here are the MS 1632 shields in color. Folio 215, 316 & 383 are called >cheiroskoutaria< shields. The Omega symbol on the shield of folios 62 & 383 is “recalling God’s words ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’, reflects the conception of the ‘eternal’ life – another possible association with a regiment named ‘the Immortals’ (Dawson 2012, 14,21)”. Folio 62 has a bronze & gilded shields which can be a small or large, and/or heavy iron armor called a dorka (Grotowski 2010, 478,481). Some researchers believe the “dorka may have derived from the Arab leather shield known as the darcah, doracah and addacra” (Nicolle & Kolias 1988). Fig. 230- The Menologian of Basil II ms shields ca.1000-25 a.d. Illustr’d from Vatican source.1172 The Menologian of Basil MS 1613 by far has the highest number of overall motifs within every page that has an illumination painted. There are golden Hearts, red Hearts, small ‘w’ omegas, golden arrows, many different segmentum’s (wheels or cogs), octagons, scrolled hearts, golden clubs, many different styled fleur-de-lis, alpha-arrows/points, omega crosses, X’s & O’s, exclamation marks, stars, rosettes, diamonds, spades, Omegas, S’s, combs (ϡ sampi letter? or Egyptian pictograph for feather?1173) and other items not yet given a name to the design. So, I suggest the Menologian of Basil is the source for the four suits of French playing cards prior to the 15th century. Menologian of Basil II MS Vatican Greek 1613 https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.1613 Egyptian pictograph for feather has 5 needles similar to images in MoB II ms1613 https://earlychurchhistory.org/christian-symbols/the-staurogram/ 1172 1173 261 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Back in Boeotia, Phocis, Greece (near Distomo) the ancient monastery of Hosios Loukas (St. Loukas of Stiris) which was founded by the hermit Venerable (Greek = Hosios) was getting adjoining a larger cathedral church, or Katholikon tentatively date to around 1010-12.1174 In a few carved slabs fillings have some rosette images with or without a cross found at the lower parts of the windows and front of the galleries (Schultz/Barnsley 1901, plate15). In the narthex west wall is a veneration mosaic of Constantine I and Helena or St. Helena (Catholics on August 18th) the mother of the Emperor together holding a ‘Patriarchal Cross’ ‡. Helena was born c246/50 and died 327/330. She is the same Helena that went on the Holy Places tour in her 70’s (326-328 a.d.) to find the “True Cross” in Palestine. “Constantine appointed his mother as “Augusta Imperatrix” and gave her unlimited access to the imperial treasury in order to locate the relics of Judeo-Christian tradition”.1175 Fig. 231- Constantine I & Helena (mother) narthex of Hosios Loukas, Stiris, Greece ca.1011/1030. Left, cropped Image credit Schultz & Barnsley 1901.1176 Right, reconstructed Helena shield of wood from various images.1177 Katholikon @ Hosios Loukas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosios_Loukas Empress Helena mother of Constantine the Great https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_(empress) 1176 Robert W Schultz and Sidney H Barnsley 1901. The monastery of Saint Luke of Stiris, in Phocis, and the dependent monastery of Saint Nicolas in the Fields, near Skripou, in Bœotia, plate 36. 1177 Hosios Loukas https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hosios_Loukas_(narthex)_-_West_wall,_left__detail_03_(Constantine_and_Helena)_02.jpg 1174 1175 262 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY In the same monastery Christ is holding a Cross in a scene called “The Anastasis” (=rising up). He is wearing a beige clothing with a white robe partially flowing in the air with the bottom of his robe a sharp combined >ovate< and v-shaped Thorakion. “Constantine the Great and his Mother Saint Helena, Holy, Equal to the Apostles (Grosvenor 1895, 298).” This one fresco has so much symbolism than any I’ve viewed before. Notice the shield is still somewhat of a half-heart shape albeit slightly more rounded on the top. Helena’s shield is the right side of the heart for the divine side. Is this the >divinity< shield? Another concept I submit combines this scene better as Helena being a personification of Mother Mary who gave a Holy birth to our Lord, Queen in Heaven, Sainted Mother Mary on Earth. Helena’s son Constantine I our Regent to God on Earth emphasizing both Mary mother of Christ/God (Theotokos), Equal to the Apostles and her son connected to the Cross. Does Helena’s tear shaped shield represent the purity of the virgin womb-shaped shield and costs paid in tears for our sins? Is >Theotokos<, just another name for the >Mother of Gold< shield? Another find is on Helena’s shield, which has two ‘Y’ symbols in pearl dots under the bottom blocks. Waw or vav for ‘Y’ in Hebrew was depicted as a tent peg and conveyed the idea of, to increase, and secure1178. Vav is defined as “a peg, nail or hook as used for attaching one thing to another” (Benner 2018)1179. So, became the preposition wa, which communicates the idea of adding to and or increasing something. ‘Y’ in the Greek word IXOYE for fish (Ichthys) is Upsilon the first letter of Yios (Son)1180. The word written from IXOYE acronym is Jesus Christ God’s Son Savior.1181 In Judges and a few other books in the bible, it mentions the Hebrew name for Yahweh [Lord]. So, in this fresco Constantine I is Helena’s son but also the ‘Son of God regent on earth’? Or the shield where ‘Y’ is placed on both sides of the cross is representative of the >Son of God< and Jesus >Christ< Shield? Notice the single square like cross? This square cross was produced around or before the 5th century a.d.1182 and before that in 420 b.c. as the border motif of an Apulia, Italy1183 terracotta pottery. A find while researching Eudokia Baiana is that this shield is a half-heart that is the right side. “A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left” – Ecclesiastes 10:2. Christ was pierced with a spear presumedly to be on his right side and the “right hand of God/Dextera Domini” is mentioned several times in the bible as the place of honor in Gods Kingdom. If the Alphaomega symbol is split in two, the right side would be the James @ Yahowahberyth. http://yahowahberyth.com/index.php/home/translating/aleph-beyt/ vav or waw Ancient Hebrew dictionary http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/dictionary/ancient-vav.html 1180 Meaning of Christian Fish https://wesleyanarminian.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/the-meaning-of-thechristian-fish-%CE%B9%CF%87%CE%B8%CF%85%CF%83/ 1181 Christian Wheel IXOYE (Ichthus) https://www.seedbed.com/ichthus-never-knew-christian-wheel/ 1182 Fragment w/’square’ cross decoration Coptic textile A#15.439 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/9166 1183 Pelike (Apulian red-figure ware) 420 b.c.e attributed to the Painter of the Berlin Dancing Girl A#1391-D5 https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/407/ 1178 1179 263 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY shield/heart half represented on the Empress Helena and Eudokia Baiana ~907. Is this shield shaped personified as >Dextera Domini< or >Alpha< or >Omega< shield? A recent find suggests that the ‘Y’ may also mean “Man seeks Salvation”1184 from Matthew 7:7 Ask, Seek, Knock. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you”. The Rus (Russian Vikings) at the same time the leader Prince Yaroslav/Iaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise (r. 1019-1054), who was considered the contemporary for Emperor Basil II in Byzantine. A coin almost identical (the A/V alpha character is set off to one side under the trident between the two on the reverse) to the one not shown was minted at Novgorod and it dated by MCARF to 1014.a.d.. The Kievan Rus was the loose federation of East Slavic tribes in Europe from about 882-1240. Many of these men would assist Byzantine emperors in the Varangian guard and bring back their treasures from Imperial service. Fig. 232- Yaroslov silver coin minted in Kiev dated 1019-1054 or 1037+ and one in Novgorod in 1014?. Illustr’n Credit Schlumberger 1896.1185 The >Holy warrior< or >Saints shield< oval topped shields were added to coins, medallions and lead seals from the 10th century and appear to have ended in the 13th century.1186 Yaroslav started building a Cathedral in Kiev 10171037 (however constructed took 2 decades to complete1187), named after the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. In the church there are many frescoes and mosaics with either ‘V’ shaped loros or Saints with cross shaped Thorakions, but no Shield shaped Thorakions to be found. Knowing the details of this construction venerating the Saints I would also date the coin above in the same decade. Yaroslavs father, Vladimir Sviatoslavich (r.980-1015) the Primary Chronical notes he has two other sons Boris and Gleb (who became Rus Saints) by a liaison of a Bulgarian woman1188. However, this has been argued this maybe his Byzantine wife Anna Porphyyrogenita (r.989-1011). Bible from Fordland Y=Man seeks Salvation https://townsendfive.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/ancientchristian-symbols/ 1185 Sigillographie L’Empire Byzantine by Gustave Schlumberger 1884. 1186 via catalogue search on Dumbarton Oaks research library and collection https://www.doaks.org/resources/seals/byzantine-seals#b_start=0&c2=oval+shield 1187 Saint Sophia Cathedral Kiev https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophia%27s_Cathedral,_Kiev 1188 Ostrowski, David. 2003. An interlinear Collation and Paradosis, line 805-6 1184 264 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Shortly before the saint’s shield shows up in the Ripoll bible (in eastern Spain) a General was about to end his service to Emperor Basil II. Constantine Diogenes served with distinction in the final stages of the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria.1189 In 1017 Basil Fig. 233- Constantine Diogenes seal, Byzantine General early 11thC dated before 1029. Image Credit Gustave Schlumberger 1896.1190 placed Diogenes in charge of the tagmata of Scholai of the West and Thessalonica and tasked him with pursuing Tsar Ivar Vladislav (of Bulgaria). He occupied high commands in the Balkans until his arrest in 1029. Diogenes committed suicide in 1032 after an inquest of further conspiracy while being imprisoned and forced to enter a monastery. Notice the cross shape in pelleted form on the saint’s shield? Question: Why are saints on Rus coins or seals but not on Anglo-Saxon during this time? A: The Rus used the hagiography of Saints divine inspiration for the Rus warriors (in prayer) as a tool also used from the entire ranks in the Byzantium corp. As far as Canute in England this type of importing of Saints may not have worked to the same advantage as Saxon England wasn’t in the habit of importing or adding a canon of unknown Saints from Byzantium. Canute would have needed to be engaged in Byzantine wars in order to provide the propaganda for adding a new saint to the rolls of Saxon England. On another note adding a warrior saint to England may have only used for ‘protection’ and not engaging in the wars of expansion occurring in Roman Constantinople. The Ripoll Bible (or incorrectly attributed as the Farfa Bible)1191 was created in the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll, Catalonia, Spain between 1027-1032 under the Abott Oliba/Oliva c971-1046. The Ripoll Bible is listed in the inventory in 1047 at the death of Abott Oliba. Ripoll is located just over the southern border of France. At 31yrs of age, Oliba entered the Benedictine Order in the Monastery of Ripoll. After the death of Abbott Seniofre’, Olive was elected abbot of the monastery. Then also elected abbot @ St. Miquel de Cruixa. “Olive began a series of actions to promote a more austere discipline in the monasteries”. His popularity grew and other monasteries began to accommodate his style of government. In 1011 he had an Audience in the Vatican with Pope Sergius IV which won a number of (papal)bulls for their monasteries. He also promoted the movement ‘Peace and Treaty of God’ in 1027 while he was bishop of Vic Constantine Diogenes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_Diogenes Sigillographie L’Empire Byzantine by Gustave Schlumberger 1884, pg 433 1191 Ripoll Bible http://warfare.gq/6C-11C/Ripoll_Bible.htm?i=1 1189 1190 265 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY (1018-1046) in a province of Barcelona. Oliba was instrumental in translating Arabic manuscripts into Latin.1192 Fig. 234- Varangian guard w/shield in Nea Moni, Chios, Greece. Author Illustr’d from various sources.1193 The Varangian Guard1194 (Longinus the Centurion)1195 was an Elite group of personal bodyguards to Byzantine Emperors and a unit in the Byzantine Army between the 10th and 14th centuries. Another two Varangian examples appears in the Nea Moni (New Monastery) on the island of Chios of Greece. The church was built (after 1042) by the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos and his wife. “The main church1196 was inaugurated in 1049 and the remaining complex finished in 1055 after Constantine’s death”. In the naos interior has a mosaic of anastasis, detail showing David and Solomon1197. In the mosaic death scene of Christ in the church is shown on the far right a Varangian soldier1198 dressed like a Roman Centurion. He is very elaborately dressed, including a precious colored Oval shield. The symbols on the square of his tunic have reverse scrolled hearts and his leg wrappings below his knees have many gold AlphaCross styled images similar to the inverted hearts. Notice the ‘S’ on his sword? The Is that ‘Z’ on his leggings for Zeta or runic character ᛇ Eihwaz ‘yew’? The Eihwaz ‘yew’ tree makes sense because this rune stands for “transformation, confrontation of fears”, and “refers to a protection & defence”1199 and be rational to face harsh realities while keeping the spirit, will and mind strong to endure the worst (Petrinec 2013, 25). Death scene image found in public domain @ Wikipedia. Also, Death and Betrayal Scene found @Armourinart.com. Abbot Oliba https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbot_Oliba Varangian Guard @ Nea Moni, Chios, Greek http://armourinart.com/5125/15865/ 1194 Varangian Guard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varangian_Guard 1195 Longinus, a Centurion Roman soldier confesses before Christ https://oca.org/saints/lives/2019/10/16/102980-martyr-longinus-the-centurion-who-stood-at-the-cross-of-thelord 1196 Nea Moni of Chios – Greek ministry of Culture https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nea_Moni_of_Chios 1197 Magdalino, Paul & Nelson, Robert, 2010. The Old Testament in Byzantium. p250 1198 Varangian soldier as Roman centurion with Scandinavian sword http://akrokorinthos.blogspot.com/2011/06/varangiansthe-enigmatic-byzantine.html 1199 Petrinec, Monika 2013. The Runic Script and its Characters in Old English and Middle English Texts. p25 https://repozitorij.ffos.hr/islandora/object/ffos%3A1403/datastream/PDF/view 1192 1193 266 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 235- Betrayal scene of Malchus w/shield in Nea Moni, Chios, Greece ca.1049-55. Facsimile photo image credit exploregreece.1200 Right, Shield from betrayal scene, reconstructed from various images.1201 The 2nd mosaic(right) inner Narthex, the Betrayal (of Malchus) Jesus arrested scene shows (Imperial Guardsmen/Rus) blonde complexioned men with staves, lamps, a precious oval shield, double & single headed axes typical of the Varangian “Imperial” Guard. But wait, look inside the Oval Shield - there is a >Saints< shield inside another >Tear< shaped shield. Malchus also has 6 gold Alpha-crosses images surrounding gold shaped diamond on the chest of his robe. More details describing the Bible scene and the Byzantine Varangian guard can be found on warfare.netau.net1202. In Catalonia, Spain the Biblia Sancti Petris Rodensis (or Bible Saint Peter of Roda) a latin manuscript in pen was created from ca.1050-1100 a.d. However, the BNdF1203 has a date between 901-1100, although the common 1050+ date I believe is more likely. It has a few wing-shaped shields on the following pages listed below with some of my interesting observations: -f41r, 3 men riding horses wearing chain-mail with 1 typical kite shield visible. The shield has a curved double line a few inches just below the top of the shield. -f174v, has only 1 shield with a rounded point and a small cross below the top arch and resting on 2 arches below. -f196v has no shields, but the Queen in the MS has a similar crown leafing and robe rove the head to Emma in the book ‘Encomium of Queen Emma’. Varangian guards in bible scene ca1049-55 www.explorechios.gr/en/alternative-tourism/religioustourism/46-nea-moni#bwg19/503 1201 Nea Moni, Chios, Greece – Betrayal scene http://armourinart.com/5125/15864/ 1202 Betrayal Scene and Byzantine Guards http://warfare.netau.net/11/Byzantine-Nea_Moni-ChiosBetrayal.htm 1203 Bibliotheque Nationale de France dates Biblia Sancti Petri Rodensis to 901-1000. http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b90658394/f1.item 1200 267 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY -f270v, shows a battle scene on foot and horses with 9 shields of which 5 are more egg shaped than sharply points >kite< shields and 2 of them have Phrygian helmets. -f290v, shows a battle on horse and foot with 2 small round shields visible, 2 women dressed as Nuns very similar to Aelfgy in the Bayeux Tapestry. 6 kite shaped shields with 3 in the front clearly defined and 2 of those shields have an inner border similar to the Bayeux tapestry. -f291r, a soldier from a tower does have the typical pointed >kite< shield, dressed in mail with a spear behind his head. A Calvary scene above shows 17 men and 12 possible shields. The 2 soldiers who met each in the middle(wearing mail) show a finer & sharply drawn typical kite shield clearly visible. -F292v, has the typical black/white traced >kite< design and the size appears to be from the waist line to the top of the brow. One cavalryman has no chain-mail and his shield is egg-shaped, although another man below this image with the same outfit does have the typical pointed shield shape. -f293r, battle scene on horses with 9 shields visible and only 2 unobstructed typical kite shields. In the same year shortly before William and the Normans were about to invade England, Theodore a monk from Caesarea worked and lived at the Studios Monastery in Constantinople. The Theodore Psalter “It was made for Michael1204, the abbot of the monastery in February 1066”. 3 round and 1 wing shield on f12r, 2 Gold shields on f38v?, 2 red round shields on f63v, 1 gold & black Thorakion shield on f65r “Personification of Zion”, 1 red round shield on f69v, 2 rounds grey shields on f73r, 5 round shields and 1 brown oval shield on f74r, 1 red round f75r, 2 brown shields f77v, 1 brown large rnd f85v, 1 brown oval 87v, 2 rnd shields f95v, 2 rnd f98r, 5 rnd f105v, 2 oval shields barely visible f111r, 2 rnd f125v, 1 red/gold/blck Thorakion shield f130r, 1 brwn rnd f130v, 5 round f145r, 1 rnd f158r, 1rnd & 1 thorakion f167r, 1 brown rnd 178v, 2 red barely visible f181r, 1 partial thorakion 187v, 1 red rnd partial 188v, 1 red oval 190v, 2 rnd 191r, 3 red rnd barely visible, 3 rnd 196r, 2 brown (1 rnd & 1 oval) 199r, and 1 brwn rnd 202r. Scenes with the ovate >Bible< shields: -F12r = Warriors and David in pit. -F65r = Temple -F74r = David and Guards, soldiers of Sobal burning; arrival of Jacob -F87r = Christ on Cross, pierced with lance. -F130v = Tree destroyed; St. Eustathios mounted -F167r = The Orastors, St. Catherine, Maximian 1204 Theodore Psalter Feb 1066 https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-theodore-psalter 268 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY -F199r = Habakkuk the Prophet, angle slaying the ungodly. Some shields & thorakion images re-drawn in black and white. The shields also re-drawn in Color. Fig. 236- Theodore Psalter shields MS 19352 Greek ca.1066. Author Illustr’d from source.1205 British Library Theodore Psalter Greek MS 19352 circa February 1066 http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=add_ms_19352_f001r 1205 269 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY The Bayeux Tapestry was produced about ~1070 in Canterbury, England for Normandy. The Tapestry describes the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England and the fall of Harold with William winning the war at the Battle of Hastings in October 1066. Even though it is called the Bayeux Tapestry (it’s actually a Needlepoint Embroidery), which is the place it was eventually shown in Bayeux Cathedral in France. The English woman were the best in Embroidery so it was actually created in England and likely commissioned by Williams half-brother Bishop Odo in the 1070’s. The designer (located in scene 17) however is believed to be Scolland the abbot of St. Augustine’s monastery in Canterbury, England and made around 10751206. Scolland was a senior monk at Mont Saint-Michel in 1064 two years prior to the Conquest of England. About 1100, Baudri, Abbot of Bourgueil wrote a poem known as Adela Comitissae for Adèle (Adela) the “daughter of William the Conqueror in which he describes a tapestry illustrating the events of the Norman conquest of England handing near her bed”.1207 Baudri is in awe at Adele’s appreciate of poetry and books knowledge as she has transformed her room, one wall in dedication of the seven Bible figures such as David & Solomon. Another wall about Greek gods, myths and Roman kings. Around her bed the entire tapestry(?) scene pre-conquest of England to the battle of Hastings, the ceiling as sky with constellations, signs of Zodiac, stars, planets described in detail. On the floor, a map of the world with seas, river mountains, etc with cities on the land masses of Asia, Europe and Africa. The bed is decorated with 3 groups of statues: 1st Philosophy & liberal arts, , the quadrivium (music, arithmetic, astronomy, geometry) at the head of the bed. 2nd the trivium (rhetoric, dialectic and grammar) at the foot. 3rd representing medicinal characters ‘Hippocrates, etc”, the humors w/physical characteristics, herbs and unguents”.1208 A couple of interesting finds relating to biblical references. First, when reviewing the shields on the scene where Harold is captured/arrested by Guy of Ponthiueu, I believe the 4 soldiers are a representation of the 4 horsemen from the book of Revelation (coming to judgement). The four horsemen are also the first men in the tapestry to hold a spear. Four spears out of a total of ~174 of which ~15 are standards (flags). The Spear is represented in Byzantine Bible illuminations and used in Holy warrior iconography for slaying the Devil (in Dragon form). There is a cross directly above the scene including 2 Griffin look across the cross isle and four animals below the scene all running right. The Title and content of the book “A Needle in the right hand of GOD – The Norman Conquest of 1066 and the making of the Bayeux Tapestry” by R Medievalists Interview with Howard Clarke historian @ University College “Dublin” in 2012 http://www.medievalists.net/2013/10/designer-of-the-bayeux-tapestry-identified/ 1207 Baudri, Abbot of Bourgueil poem about Adele http://www.bayeux-tapestry.org.uk/sources.htm 1208 Ibid, see the very detailed account of Adele’s room by Baudri http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk/baudri-full.htm 1206 270 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Howard Bloch, points toward the symbolism of ‘Angel’ Wing shields overtaking the sins of the throne (in Saxon England) and then needle worked in the Church.1209 Fig. 237- Bayeux tapestry scene 15, ‘The Four Horsemen’, 1st with spears. Cropped Image credit Hilaire Belloc 1914.1210 Second, is that the Norman cross shields bottom leg is pointing to their right side of the shield, while the Saxons are shifted to the left side of their shields. One exception is the Norman rear or rutter of the boat & two exceptions for the Saxons (1st shield wall & 2nd round oval shield). Fig. 238- Norman cross shields. Cropped image credit Hilaire Belloc 1914.1211 Professor R.H. Bloch’s title was derived from a phrase in Henry Huntington’s chronicle where he mentions “the year 1066 brought a change in the right hand of God”. 1210 Belloc, Hilaire. 1914. The book of the Bayeux tapestry p11. 1211 Belloc, Hilaire. 1914. The book of the Bayeux tapestry p11. 1209 271 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 239- Saxon cross shields. Cropped image credit Hilaire Belloc 1914.1212 In the Basilica di San Marco or St. Marks in Venice there is a high “alter retable” or Pala d’Oro first commissioned in ca.975/6 (Golden Cloth) of panels which shows evangelists, prophets, apostles and angels. It was re-commissioned in Byzantine by the Venetians by the Doge Ordelaffo Falier1213 in 1102 and completed in 1105. Jerphanion of the >Le Thorakon< dates (pg 299) the panel to 1071-1081.One lower section of the panel has an Empress by the name of Irene of Athens born (~752) or her common name Irene Sarantapechaina \ Sarantapechos a Greek family. Irene married Leo IV son of Constantine V on December 17, 769. January 14, 771, Irene gave birth to the future Constantine VI. There are much unusual circumstances surrounding Irene. Leo’s father died Sept 775. Leo succeeded to the throne @ 25 yrs of age. Leo was an iconoclast and his policies became much harsher by 780. Leo died suddenly Sept 8, 780. Irene became regent for their 9yro son. Trying to keep the thrown she turned conspirators into ordained priests to disqualify them for the throne. She cancelled her sons plans of a wedding (Rotrude, daughter of Charlemagne)1214, then had her son blinded by a dagger after him unsuccessfully pledging his allegiance to her (Baptiste, Jean)1215. Many more very interesting stories can be read on the internet about Empress Irene. Belloc, Hilaire. 1914. The book of the Bayeux tapestry p11. Basilica di San Marco http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/basilica/il-tesoro-e-la-pala-doro/la-paladoro/?lang=en 1214 Ken & Marks research blog https://2guysreadinggibbon.wordpress.com/page/4/ 1215 Baptiste, Jean – Irene of Athens Empress of the Byzantine Empire https://jeannebaptiste.wordpress.com/irene-of-athens-empress-of-the-byzantine-empire/ 1212 1213 272 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Notice the garment typical of Women Saints/Supporters like Eudokia dated 907? The cross in the panel is called a ‘double traverse’ cross. The enamel inscriptions reads ‘ΕΙΡΗΝΗ ΕΥΣΕΒΕΣΤΑΤΗ ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΗ’ = Irene most-repstected Augusti.1216 Fig. 240- Pala D’Ora, Venice1217. Byzantine Enameled Gold panel of Empress Irene (752-803) dates to 1071/81 or 1105. Author Illustr’d from Peter Flickr 20101218 & Jerphanion 1930/Collenberg 1971.1219 The Skylitzes Manuscript have a few motifs scattered through the manuscript. Notice the Dbl Alpha arrow? Also, notice the reverse ‘S’ character on the door? John Wortley published a book called “John Skylitzes: a Synopsis of Byzantine history”1220 in which he thinks the likely hypothesis is this manuscript was written in the 1080’s and may have continued for some decades.1221 Fig. 241- Varangian guard with shield shown in the Skylitzes f27/62. ca.1080/1100+. Author penciled from various images.1222 Alamy.com inscription details from Image ID MMH77D Pala D’ora or Golden Cloth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pala_d%27Oro 1218 Peter Byzantine empress Irene of Athens 752-803. https://www.flickr.com/photos/28433765@N07/5247254304/ 1219 Jerphanion, Guillaume de. Le Thorakion 1930. Collenberg, Wipertus H. Rudt de 1971. LE <<Thorakion>> Recherches Iconographiques. p299 1220 Skylitzes, John, Wortley, John John Skylitzes: A Synopsis of Byzantine History, 811–1057: Translation and Notes By John Skylitzes, John Wortley 1221 Biblioteca Nacional de Espana dates the ‘Historia Buzantina by Juan Skylitzes’ to the 12th-13th centuries under the reign of Michael VI (1056-1057) http://www.spainisculture.com/en/obras_de_excelencia/biblioteca_nacional_de_espana/historia_bizantin a_j_skylitzes_vitr_26_2.html 1222 Varangian Guard Skylitzis Chronicle https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Skylitzis_Chronicle_VARANGIAN_GUARD.jpg 1216 1217 273 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY In the late 11th century and constructed around 1087 the Bab al-Nasr (Gate of Victory) was built in Fatmid, Cairo, Egypt by vizier Badr al-Jamali.1223 One of 4 gates protecting the city shields were placed on the structure for Victory. Three of the gates are stated (Bab-en-Nasr, Bab-el-Futuh and Bab Zawila/Zuweyla (1091)) to have been the work of 3 brothers, architects from Edessa1224, each of whom built a gate. The Edessa ‘architects must have been well acquainted with the military architecture of Byzantium’ (Poole 1901,153) gateways. Four round shields adorn the two towers facing outside with a single >protector< shield on each tower facing outwards. Right above the entrance of the gate has 2 three circle Triquetras(?) squeezed in the middle with a sword behind each shield and a small 5 leaf rosette in the center of the shields. According to the alTarsusi the kite-shaped shield was used by the Franks and Byzantines.1225 The ‘little roundshield’ is called a rondache1226 (or roundel) also found in the first painter of the Madrid Skylitzes MS ca.1070/80 and the following folios 12r(blue), 16v(red), 25r(white), 26v(red), and 32v(white). Fig. 242- Bab al-Nasr gate, Fatmid, Egypt ca.1087. Redrawn image from various sources. Based on the map of the gates1227, Bab-en-Nasr is facing North East (NNE) which is why the sun shows a shadow to the side the fortress in the picture above. An actual photo image in the public domain from Wikipedia. Located 500km south is the town of Akhmim which was famous for Christian textiles, pottery and related art. Some Bab Al Nasr Gate https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Cairo-Bab-al-Nasr.jpg Lane-Poole, Stanley 1901. A history of Egypt in the Middle Ages. Edessa was long an outpost of the Roman Empire against the Caliphs. 1225 The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives 2000 by Carole Hillenbrand 1226 Hoffmeyer, Ada Bruhn 1966. MILITARY EQUIPMENT IN THE BYZANTINE MANUSCRIPT OF SCYLITZES IN BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL IN MADRID. 1227 Lane-Poole, Stanley 1901, pg202. A history of Egypt in the Middle Ages. Map of Cairo in 12thC. 1223 1224 274 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY mysterious Coptic vases have puzzled researchers because of the various Martyrs, Saints, Holy Warriors depicted on these Egyptian artifacts. One particular vase (Inv# E14361/AF6940) 1228 located in Paris Louvre has two horsemen (Theodore and Mercury?) with one possibly with a tear shaped shield and twelve haloed (apostles?) niched figures each with a tear shaped shield held from the right-side of waist angled out over their right foot. Another item partial vase (Inv# UC19480)1229 has a monk holding an Amphora handled vessel or torch with a Dbl AAST on the item. The Barberini MS 372 Greek Byzantine manuscript is held at the Vatican archives. Notice the Thorakion on Irene? It’s still very half heart shaped with the vertical line down her right side. Fig. 243- Barberini Psalter crowning of Alexius Comnenus, John Comnenus & Empress Irene ca.1080/1092. Image credit Charles Diehl 1910.1230 The Byzantine manuscript1231 Marcianus Graecus Z.454[=822] also known as Venetus A for the oldest complete Iliad text (in existence) produced most likely in Constantinople1232 in the tenth century (938?) and originally was not illustrated. In folio 4v, it shows four soldiers with shields and spears, however the primary soldier in the forefront is holding the long oval shield to his left side with greyish/silver protecting the edges and some sort of dragon or lion around the boss mounting in the inner 2nd grey tear. Coptic era vase ca.8-10thC http://musee.louvre.fr/bases/neyret/images_bd/oeuvres/E-14361.jpg Coptic sherd Inv# UC 19480 Byzantine Period Egyptian http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/petrie%20museum/pages/Petrie%20Museum%20(UCL)%20170.htm https://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/digitalegypt/pottery/uc19480.html 1230 Diehl, Charles 1910. Manuel d’art Byzantin pg380. 1231 Greecian manuscript BNM Mss.Gr.Z.454 Iliad (Venetus A) dating 900-1000 a.d. (possibly 1038?) http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4919/14626/ 1232 Blackwell, Christopher - 2008 CIDOC conference http://network.icom.museum/fileadmin/user_upload/minisites/cidoc/ConferencePapers/2008/32_papers.p df 1228 1229 275 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY However, these illustrations were “introduced in the beginning folios of the manuscripts at a later date, most likely in the twelfth century” (Kalavrezou, Ioli 2009)1233. The size of shield is shown on the soldier from his cheek/chin to his upper knee. The issue I had when researching this image, was that if it was created in the tenth century why did the wing shield take so long to re-appear in similar Byzantine illuminations? It seemed out of place. A span from 900/1000a.d to 1080’s (Skylitzes), that’s 80-180 years being absent in manuscripts or mosaics. See the Grecian/Italian Illiad images from Harvard library and via Manuscript miniatures 1234 or the larger original image via the Homer Multitext Project site. A very interesting Illumination (circa 1130) called “Miscellany on the life of St. Edmund” MS M.736 describes events between the 9th through 11th century starting with the Vikings killing Edmund, King of East Anglia (reign 855-869/70). The illumination was created at the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, England. In the manuscript there are 63 shields most side or partial visibility. Folio 7r has 14 shields and folio 9v has the fullest images very similar in style to Skylitzes Byzantine red shields. Shield images are on the following pages: 7r, 7v, 8r, 9v, 10r, 10v 11v and 15r. Click here to view the entire MS 736 manuscript @ The Morgan Library & Museum1235. An extremely rare 78-piece Chessmen set carved from bone from the Viking Age 12th century (ca.1150-1200) were found in a sandbank on the Isle of Lewis (parish of Uig) in outer Scotland in 1831. The Six pieces that are kings have a low trefoil shaped crown. Craftsmen believe to have been from Scandinavian origins and the Rook pieces resemble Berserkers that have a flat top or V shape kite shield. Here is a similar piece found in the Cabinet of Antiquities at Bibliotheque du Roi in Paris. The earliest Thorakions may have been modeled from the tales of Greek gods in Late Antiquity (3rd-4th+ cent) from the Vergilius (Vergil’s Aeneid) Vaticanus Vat lat 3225. The scene in folio45v shows Aeneas and Achates approach Sybil [SYBYLLA] at the temple of Apollo. Both Sybil and a goddess in the temple door have a Thorakion. But more than likely they actually derive from Leo VI shielded veneration of his wife Eudokia. Thorakion shields on Mosaics, Plaques, Illuminations or Enamels: Tk – Eudokia Baiane plaque1236 in Lips, Istanbul, Turkey ca.907 Tk – Zoe Porphyrogenita and Theodora ~1042-1050 on Monomachus Crown Tk – Thedora found in Menologian of Basil II MS1237 Vat.gr.1613 ca.1001-25. Tk – Irene Sarantapechaina of Athens in the Pala d’Oro, Venice 1071/1081 Center for Hellenic Studies. Harvard University Press 2009 http://www.homermultitext.org/Pubs/Due_Recapturing_a_Homeric_Legacy.pdf 1234 http://manuscriptminiatures.com/media/manuscriptminiatures.com/original/1038-1.jpg 1235 MS 736 Life of St. Edmund http://ica.themorgan.org/manuscript/thumbs/143847 1236 Saint Eudokia 907 https://monasticmatrix.osu.edu/figurae/icon-saint-eudokia 1237 MS Vat.gr.1613 https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.1613 1233 276 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Tk – Maria of Alania1238 ~1071-1081 Tk – “Personification of Zion” shields Theodore Psalter ca.1066 f65r,f130r,f167r Tk – St. Helena & St. Catherine in Hosios, Loukas, Phocis, Greece ca.1011/30 Tk – St. Onuphrius Church ca.1000 aka Snake Church or Yilanli Kilise in Nevsehir Province, Turkey. Tk – St. Helena in Cappadocia1239 ca.1050-1099 Tk – Daughter of Theodora 1070/80 Skylitzes f44r Tk – Eudoki Ingerina b.840-d.882 Skylitzes f45r ca.1070/80 Tk – Empress Irene Doukaina ca.1081 from ms.gr.372 54 Tk – Archangel Gabriel in Kiev (Ukraine), St, Sophie church ca.1000 Tk - St. Helene in Kiev (Ukraine), St, Sophie church ca.1042-1067 Tk – N. Princess de Kiev, St, Sophie church ca.1042-1067 Tk – St. Pulcherie Imperatrix in Kiev (Ukraine), St, Sophie church ca.1042-1067 Tk – Queen Isdukht in Georgia, Ateni Sion Church rein of George II ca.1072-1087 TK – Empress Irene wife of Alexius Comnenus Barb.Gr.372 folio 1recto /5r ca.1080-1092. Tk – Imperatrix Marie & Manuel I BV.gr 1176 ca.1166-1167 Other >saint< shields dedications include: Plaque with an Archangel and Empress from Khakhuli Triptych - “Mariam, Dowager Queen of Georgia (Khakhuli icon)” Byzantine or Georgian 11th(?) century. Theodora even had the shield placed on a coin in 1055-1056. Eudokia Makrembolitissa / Eudocia Macrembolitissa has the shielded dress with her holding a scepter standing on a pedestal dated 1067 by DOAKs1240. Thorakion shields on Byzantine coins: Tk – Empress Theodora and sister Zoe 1055-1056 Tk – Regent Empress Eudokia Macrembolitissa 1067-68, 1071 * the <V> shape is an early Loros worn on the body. This is the early development of what would eventually be modified by the 10th century. Another coin (1068-1071) a gold Doukas with Christ in the center, Romanos IV & wife Eudokia (her shielded dress) on the reverse1241. Where did the Byzantines derive this Thorakion image to be known as the Personification of Zion1242? A: Leo VI probably restarted this tear/half heart image shape, however in my opinion I think the Thorakion shield shape could also have been an actual geographical place shape. The names “Jerusalem,” the lofty city to which one https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_of_Alania Helena at Cappadocia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Const_helena_capp.JPG 1240 Dumbarton Oaks research Library and Collection https://www.doaks.org/resources/onlineexhibits/byzantine-emperors-on-coins/the-macedonians-and-their-immediate-successors-8671081/nomisma-histamenon-of-eudokia-1067 1241 Online Collections of University of Birmingham http://mimsy.bham.ac.uk/detail.php?type=related&kv=393857&t=objects 1242 Meyer, Mati 2009. The Personification of Zion in Byzantine Psalters with Marginal Illustrations: Between Eschatological Hopes and Realia. 1238 1239 277 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY goes up,” and “the Mount of Zion” are interchangeable in the Bible.1243 Take a look at the following maps of Israel/Palestine and the City of David, Mt. Zion and the Temple mount. Israel/former Palestine geographical map alone could be a cleaned-up version of the Thorakion or >Zion Shield< worn by the Empress. The City of David south of the Temple mount could also be used for the shape of Thorakion/Zion shield. Also, including the City of David, Mt. Zion and the Temple mount continues to take the shape of a shield, albeit slightly rounded (polished) on top and taking more ‘side’ real estate than may exist. Solomon described the following: “It was in the heart (levav) of David to build a Temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel (1 Kings 8:17 & 2 Chron 6:7). The earliest personification of a place may have started back Tyche, where the “deification of luck or fortune, was mostly connected to the welfare of the city in Classical Greece through the Roman Period” (Meyer 2009,19), in which she “became the natural candidate to personify it” (Meyer 2009,20), [the city]. Each city saw to have its own Tyche. Fig. 244- Israel/Palestine map in shape of >Thorakion< shield? City of David maps with Mt. Zion. Redrawn from various sources. Porteous, Norman W “Jerusalem-Zion: The Growth of a Symbol,” in Verbannung und Heimkehr: Beiträge zur Geschichte und Theologie Israels im 6. und 5. Jahrhundert v. Chr.: Wilhelm Rudolph zum 70. Geburtstage , ed. Arnulf Kuschke (Tübingen, 1961), 235–52 1243 278 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY A Byzantine bronze era coin of Manuel I, Comnenus (r. April 8th 1143 – Sept 24th 1180) was struck during his reign and continued through 1180 at the Thessalonica mint shows the bust of the Holy warrior St. George (O GEORGIOC) holding spear in the right hand and the top half of the oval >saints< shield on his left side. Reverse is Manuel (MANOVHL DEC) holding a spear and global crucifer. Manuel, “He was enamored of Western civilization and delighted in tournament” (Wroth lxiv 1908), which may be why he added the wing shield to these coins. “Both of his wives were western princesses, and he married his son Alexius to Agnes daughter of the French King Louis VII” (Wroth 1908,lxiv)1244. Fig. 245- Manuel I Comnenus bulla/coin ca.1143 – 1180. Illustr’d from various sources. Fig. 246- Era seal during Comnenos ca.1143-80. Image Credit Gustave Schlumberger 1884. 1245 John Kinnamos/Cinnamus1246 a Greek historian born after 1143 and died after 1185 who documented the years 1118-1176, thereby continuing Alexias of Anne Komnene born 1083—1153, which covered the reigns of John II (R.1118-1143) and Manuel I. Kinnamos describes in the encomia a description of “Manuel’s helmet with its mail face guard; the lance, sword, and mace armament of Byzantine heave cavalry; and Manuel’s “innovation” of a long, Norman-style shield, with the lance used as a primary weapon, in place of the “old” Byzantine style of fighting with bow and a round shield (Birkenmeier 2002, 17-18).” Anna Komnene documents a Byzantine history in the ‘Alexiad’ circa 1143-53 in which book XIII-viii she describes the Frankish Crusaders [11078] in the following way: “For the Frankish weapon of defence is this coat of mail, ring plaited into ring, and the iron fabric is such excellent iron that it repels arrows and keeps the wearer's skin unhurt. An additional weapon of defence is a shield which is not round, Wroth, Warwick William. 1908 Catalogue of the Imperial Byzantine Coins in the British Museum, Volume. Sigillographie L’Empire Byzantine by Gustave Schlumberger 1884. 1246 John Kinnamos a Greek historian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kinnamos 1244 1245 279 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY but a long shield, very broad at the top and running out to a point, hollowed out slightly inside, but externally smooth and gleaming with a brilliant boss of molten brass.” “For a Frank on horseback is invincible and would even make a hole in the walls of Babylon, but directly he gets off his horse, anyone who likes can make sport of him.”1247 Question: so, was the >Norman/Conquest< shield just forgotten or was is never employed until now? A: it maybe a little of both. Trying to re-invent the wheel (in this case the round shield). Notice the shield is actually part of Maria’s dress not as actual armor. Other possibilities of the shield be used here is Maria’s mother was Norman French, Maria became a Nun named “Xena” which translates to “foreigner”. Many Women Saints are illuminated or Frescoed with a shield embedded on the clothing in this motif after this period. This manuscript is part of the Ekthesis of 1166 (Magdalino 2012,413). Again, Maria’s shield is half-heart shaped with the vertical line on her right. Fig. 247- Maria of Antioch (1143-80) Empress wife of Manuel I Komnenos (1145-82).S Gr.Vat 1176 folio11. Author Illustr’d from various images.1248 In 1196/1197 Palermo, Italy an “Italian” manuscript was produced by Petrus de Ebulo/Peter of Eboli (a monk & poet) regarding the Emperor or Sicilian affairs “Liber ad honorem Augusti sive de rebus Siculi”. The presentation copy was ordered by chancellor Konrad of Querfurt. "It tells the story1249 of Tancred of Lecce's attempt to take control of Sicily, an attempt thwarted by the successful military campaign of Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor. Composed in honor of Henry VI and intended for presentation to him, it is often mocking and extremely biased, but, once allowance has been made for this, it is a useful and detailed historical source (warfare.gq 20xx)”. Alexiad by Anna Komnene translated by Elizabeth A. S. Dawes @ Forham https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/AnnaComnena-Alexiad00.asp 1248 O City of Byzantium annals of Niketas Choniates translated by Harry J Magoulias 1984. + https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manuel1_Marie.jpg 1249 Warfare 2011 http://warfare.gq/12/Liber_ad_honorem_Augusti.htm 1247 280 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY CONCLUSION/SUMMARY The Alphaomega/Inverted Monogram Heart/IAω motif. The Pre-Christian or Pagan heart while beautiful and pleasant to view on its various forms was associated with wine, hunting, war, sexual nocturnal activities (with wine grapes), various pre-Christian rituals or deity traditions, and an emblem of Roman Market control or Roman Administration. The Inverted Heart and Spade derives its form from the Dead Sea scrolls Greek acronym ‘IAω/IAO’ translated for God paralleled from the Hebrew acronym or Tetragram / YHVH/YHWH for God. The name for G-D in Hebrew is not to be named >ineffable< or described >unutterable<, hence the Hebrews have a Tetragrammaton ‘YHWH’ for G-D or substituted with ‘Adonai’ (for Lord). What is the accurate name for the so-called >inverted heart<? IAW or YAW the ineffable trigrammaton symbol and iconic heart pictogram because “You shall not take the name of YeHoWaH = Yahweh [YHWH/YAW/IAW/Aω] your God in vain” - Exodus 20:7. ‘Thus sayeth Jehovah/Yahweh/Lord , the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, >>YHWH/IAW<< of hosts; I AM( ) the FIRST( ME there is no God - Isaiah 44:6. ), and I AM( ) the LAST( ); and beside This monogram/pictogram heart of G-D (Iaω /Yaω) is the most unique and oldest (before 29 a.d) artifact ever discovered reflecting the Greek named trigrammaton (IΛW/IAW) after the Hebrew tetragrammaton form (YHWH = YeHoWaH) for G-D. By the 5th century the south quadrant of the Magdala monogram is being used as an outline while having a dual colored spade pattern in Jericho (Fig. 116) and Jordanian (Fig. 156) churches. A few of the reverent spade/heart mosaic were symbolically lifted if not from the floor, but aesthetically crafted with a monogram stand (Fig. 157). From the 1stC CE if there there were any Greeks involved in crafting mosaics, you would be sure to find there are hidden meanings in its conscruction. The Inverted Heart popularized from the 6th century, found in multiple pieces of Byzantine artwork maybe understood in the following (three holy ways) and possibly more not yet discovered. 1st, the Monogram of G-d (YeHoWaH), or [Iota(Y) [FIRST( the floor mosaics to ‘ ) & LAST( )] heart is lifted from heavenly position’ in the church. No longer below the feet. 281 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY 2nd, the inverted heart is ‘ n ecclesiastical secret monogram’ and alternate Greek name of G-D not to be mentioned – which follows the Hebrew tradition from Exodus. The Greek letter Lambda Λ used for an alternate to keep within the ineffable Hebrew tradition. 3rd, the inverted heart becomes ‘ monogram of the Heaven. pictograph icon’ for G-D, with an ineffable lphaO( )mega ligature shaped heart motif pointing toward The myriad of hearts found on Saints tunics may refer to the ‘unknown/not accounted for’ martyr saints in the ultimate sacrifice of death for the faith of Christ. While we are not sure who was the originator of the A over ω\ motif - The heart symbology appears for everyone “in plain sight” in the apse of St. Apollinaire Basilica in Ravenna, Italy during mid 6thC of the Byzantine empire under Justinian I. The lpha & O( )mega (Fig. 118) is directly above Saint Apollinaire as a hint to the hidden monogram on those hearts. The split or 2-toned Spade leaf may have an alternate meaning regarding Adam and Eve covering themselves with fig leaves as what becomes of a split duality. Another interesting discovery was the Amazon >Pelta shield< eventually developed into the ‘Scrolled Heart’, and emperor Leo VI divided heart >Thorakion Loros< for his wife Eudokia’s dress became a ‘Regent shield’. An interesting concept is the fact that most Byzantine Empresses >Thorakion< shields are on the right side of their bodies/dress, whereas the Warrior Saints whether holding a round shield or the much later usage of >Regent< shields are all typically on the left side of the men’s/saint’s bodies. Q: Was there anyone that came close to documenting this A over ω image? A: Yes , Jakob Bohme a 18th century (1730?) mystic put together the inverted heart containing Hebrew letters of the Tetragrammaton at the bottom and a Pentagrammaton including the names ‘Christus, ‘Iesus’ (Jesus) and ‘Immanuel’.1250 However, its unsure if the triangle is an Alpha character or the bottom section of the image is a lowercase omega. Seems a lot of busy artistic expression has become abstract. Q: Why did it take so long to find an answer for the inverted heart meaning? I believe the reason why the hearts explanation may have been so elusive is that by having an abstract pattern with 3 or more four ‘4 Greek hearts/love’ shapes appearing inconsistent confuses the beholder, instead of drawing an understanding. If you look at Alamy.com Inverted heart mystic details Jakob Bohme https://www.alamy.com/symbol-of-early-17thcentury-mystic-jakob-bhme-including-the-names-christus-iesus-jesus-and-immanuel-surrounding-aninverted-heart-containing-a-tetractys-of-the-hebrew-letters-of-the-tetragrammaton-and-at-the-bottom-thepentagrammaton-1730-jakob-bhme-boehme-heart-image184935338.html 1250 282 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY an upside-down spade or a right side up spade – what is the beholder concluding? Add some scroll work and throw in an internal fleur-de-lis or a trefoil (shaped like a cross) and the mind begins to wonder. “According to Nilus of Ancrya († d.430), the OT & NT stories on the church walls are meant for “the illiterate who are unable to read the Holy Scriptures”1251. The Aω heart motif simply keeps the parishioners focused on the picture stories, while beautifully detailed on the walls, so that they come back to the Basilica time after time. After the 7th century the lowercase omega ‘ω’ is rarely scene in the mosaics or frescoes of monasteries and basilicas. In European countries the ‘ω’ omega flourishes on coinage after the 7th century. The Christian Greek letter symbols >A † ω< was replaced with IC † XC &/or NI † KA, A † Ω or some other verse from the bible. Was this to hide the origin of the >Aω< motif? Make it a more complex symbol so the visitors would lack the visual images for reference in hope to understanding the artists secrets? Even the Northern European Vikings and Mercenaries understood the Ω symbol (see MFA example1252) as they used it as a fibula/brooch commonly between the 9th-11th centuries. Q: Why is the IH not the standard Heart imagery today? I think this is because as the heart motif spread to Europe, it was lost during transition from scribe to scribes, during perilous periods of short lives, “symbology lost, not wrriten, nor passed from tounge to ear - no longer known”; so whatever was comfortable to the viewer was the eventual positioning that appears on many artifacts after the 10th century: a Silver coin of King Canute IV ca.1190, various Coats of Arms, Jewelry, Russian icon of Alexander the Great (13thC Cloisonné)1253, French deck of cards 15thC, etc.. forms is the GrecoI would go so far to say the ‘inverted heart’ and other Aω Christian personification & symbolism of God/YAW/IAw to be carried around with extreme respect, re-drawn, printed, tattooed, carved in stone, and gold jewelry as a sign of loyalty to the one and only Ineffable name of “I AM the First >Alpha< and I AM the Last >O[ω]mega<”. Boeft, J.Den Van Poll, M.L. 1999. The Impact of Scripture in Early Christianity. p.125 Omega Fibula 2nd-3rdc Roman https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/fibula-264425 1253 Gold Cloisonne of Alexander the great “Ascension” with 21 Inverted Hearts and 4 Spades with an internal fleur-del-lis on his griffins(?) http://www.museum.ru/alb/image.asp?35692 1251 1252 283 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY TERMINOLOGY Adarga shield1254 (al-daraga/adarg) – a hard leather shield with various descriptions kidney(pair) shaped, broad kite, heart or twin ovals fitted together in a central axis. The Moors of Spain, North Africans or Islamic Andalusians used these shields by the 13th century. Achmim/Akhmim1255 – is a city in upper Egypt which was part of Byzantium from the 3rd7th (200-600 a.d)1256 centuries. The location has a major history of producing fine textile garments, tunics, rugs and woven products for Byzantium and other travelers. Akhmim was referred to the Greeks as Khemmis, Chemmis and Panopolis. The Metmusuem.org, British Museum, Brooklyn Museum and the Ashmolena museum have collections of Akhmim textiles from this period. Alpha & Omega1257 (άλφα ωμέγα) – Alpha (ΑΛ or α) and omega (Ω or ω) are the first and last Greek letters of the Alphabet. They are used in connection the bible mentions “I am the First and the Last” in the book of Isaiah(2x) and ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega” in the book of Revelation(4x). Prior to the 6th century it appears most Alpha Omega art is Aω omega/ωμέγα being in a lowercase character, rather than AΩ. Lambda Λ is also used in conjunction as an Alpha A as previous examples in this book. Aniconic1258 – is a local Jewish and Hellenistic Roman concept that art should not contain figures or symbols but only the rigid use of floral, geometric and architectural patterns adopted from Hellenistic art. Bulla(e) (Seals)1259 – is an inscribed clay or soft piece of metal (lead usually) or wax etc used in the ancient world for commercial or legal documentation as a form of identification of the holder/user. The oldest form dates back to 8th century bce. Occasionally some of the Byzantine warriors would have a token in the same form as a seal to pray and venrerate their saints prior to the battle. Cheiroskoutaria – a highly decorated round shield of Byzantine manufacture. A Varangian officer may also be equipped with this round shield as in the image at Nea Moni Chios monastery. Chi Rho1260 (kaɪ ˈroʊ) – is one of the earliest forms of christogram, formed by superimposing the letters chi and rho (XP) OF THE Greek word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (Christos). Is was Adarga shield https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adarga Akhmim https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akhmim 1256 Geens, Karolien. 2007/14 dating of Panopolis in Byzantine terms. www.trismegistos.org/downloads/process.php?file=TOP_SS_1.pdf 1257 Alpha and Omega https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_and_Omega 1258 Hachlili, Rachel. 1988 Ancient Jewish Art and Archaelogy in the Land of Israel, p83 1259 Bulla/Seals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulla_(seal) 1260 Chi Rho https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Rho 1254 1255 284 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY used as a symbol on coins of Ptolemy III Euergetes r246-222bc. Occasionally the Alpha and Omega symbols are also used with the symbol. Chrysobull1261 (χρυσός) – chrysos (Greek for gold) or golden bull was a decree/edict issued by Byzantine Emperors (992, 1082+) and later monarchs in Europe. The first1262 chrysobull appears to be an edict in March 992 from Basil II, granting privileges to Venetian merchants. These decrees were sworn statements, privileges or certain obligations and negotiations of the party or parties for which they were written. Coptic (Copts) – were the Christian Egyptians between the period1263 395-642 a.d. in which much of their language was imported from Greek and their art ‘textiles’ works were Christian Egyptian-Graeco-Byzantine in nature. Most of the textile fragments are Geographically attributed to Egypt, possibly Akhmim (former Panopolis) (Török 1993, intro)1264. The period ended abruptly due to the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 642 and the arrival of Islam. Cryptogram – ‘Unintelligible words (or letters), with an intelligence conveyed in secret form’1265, particularly a monogram or pictogram in which only the creator or a specific group and its members are able to understand the meaning. Curopalate/Kourapalates1266 (κουροπαλάτης) – Latin cura palatii “the one in charge of the palace” and being one of the highest Byzantine court titles from the time of Justinian I r.527-565 and lasted until the 12th century. Davidic1267 – of or pertaining to the Biblical King David and his son Solomon as a powerful father/son dual reigning in their own way. Solomonic – of or pertaining to Solomon the wise, who wrote songs and proverbs in Psalms, talent to Judge, a temple builder and knowledge of the natural world. Diptych1268 (δίπτυχον) – is any object with two flat plates attaches at a hinge. The modern example is a standard notebook or school exercise book. Some ancient example was done in ivory and others done in panel paintings. Filigree1269 – is a process of making jewelry metalwork usually of gold or silver with tiny beads or twisted threads or in both combinations. “The word filigree is shortened from Chrysobull or Golden Bull https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_bull 1st Chrysobull http://constantinople.ehw.gr/forms/fLemmaBodyExtended.aspx?lemmaId=11935 1263 Coptic Period overview by Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum https://egyptianmuseum.org/explore/copticperiod-overview 1264 Torok, Laszlo 1993. Coptic Antiquities vol1-2. Large quantities of Textiles discovered by Robert Forrer during active (1885) excavations of cemeteries at Akhim-Panopolis, Egypt. p Intro. 1265 Dickens, Charles 1865. All the Year Round, vol 12. p486 1266 Kouropalates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kouropalates 1267 Davidic https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Davidic 1268 Diptych https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diptych 1269 Filigree https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filigree 1261 1262 285 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY filligreen which derives from Latin “filum” meaning thread and “granum” /grain, in the sense of a small bead”. Folio – Is a fancy way of labeling manuscripts leafs/pages. f+number = that page. With the book open lying flat, the variable behind the page number can be determined. r = recto (right page) or v = verso (left page). Gorgoneion1270 (Γοργόνειον) - an Ancient Greek amulet of a grotesque Gorgon head used or worn as a protective pendant with various image changes over the millenniums. It was assumed to give godlike attributes, imply divine birth, guard from hostile intruders (via frescoes), protect over kiln doors from mishaps, frequently appears on shields of warriors mid 5thC, with hundreds of variations and references throughout European and Roman history. Hagiography1271 (hæɡiˈɒɡrəfi) – Holy graphia, meaning writing a biography of the lives of saints and the veneration of the Christian saints. This literature embraces the acts of martyrs (trials & deaths) as with holy monks/warriors, bishops, virgins, emperors, kings and other supporters of the church. The accounts of miracles would be connected to saint’s tombs, relics, icons, statues and innumerable art work.1272 Halo1273 (ἅλως) – also known as a nimbus, aureole or gloriole, which is a crown of typically golden rays of light in the form of a circle that surrounds the head of a Holy Person, Saint, King, Queen, a Hero or Martyr. The Art work and image is typically a veneration or remembrance of that figure. Hamonoia (Ὁμόνοια) – “The Greek word was translated harmony is homonoia, which means, literally, “of the same mind.” The Romans translated it by Concordia, or “union of hearts”.1274 Hoplites1275 – or Skutatos/Skutatoi(10thC+?) were citizen Roman/Greek/Byzantine footsoldiers heavily armed front-line infantrymen with spears(kontaratos) and shields(skoutatos). Iconoclasm1276 – is the social belief in the importance of the destruction of icons and other images or monuments, most frequently for religious or political reasons. There were Gorgoneion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgoneion Hagiography https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagiography 1272 Hagiography https://www.britannica.com/topic/hagiography 1273 Halo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_(religious_iconography) 1274 Swain, Joseph Ward, 1962. The Ancient World: The world empires: Alexander and the Romans after 334 B.C pg37. 1275 Hoplites https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoplite 1276 Iconoclasm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconoclasm 1270 1271 286 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY 2 periods of Iconoclasm – First 726-787 started by Leo III (r. 717-741) and Second between 814-842. Read the full more detailed definition on Wikipedia.1277 Iconography1278 – the visual images and symbols used in a work of art or the study or interpretation of these. Kataphraktoi1279 (κατάφρακτος)- the cataphract was a form of heavy armored cavalry (completely enclosed/protected) on horse wielding a lance/spear. The shield was added later to make a formative combination. Kissofulon (κισσοφύλον) – ivy leaf. A decorative motif resembling the spade (or AlphaCross(?)) commonly used on regalia textiles of the 11th-12th centuries.1280 Kite-shaped shield1281 – “is rather oblong, sometimes triangular, sometimes with more or less curved sides.” “The upper line is almost always curved, while the sides converge into a more or less rounded point (Bruhn Hoffmeyer, Ada 1966, 84)”. Latins/Latin Barbarians1282 – a term used by Graeco-Byzantine writers to describe the Franks, foreigners, pagans, savage etc.. Lentoid shield1283 – is a commonly mistaken for crudely depicted Oval shields. The eyeshaped or Lentoid existed in Iron Age Europe and the near east. Most evidence is in numismatics (coins), but they span many cultures and fighting traditions. Even the Hellenistic ‘Thureos’ are sometimes seen as lentoid shape and not just an oval. Ligature1284 – occurs when two or more letters are joined into a single glyph as the example of ampersand ‘&’ deriving from the Latin combination of et. Lombardic1285 – or “Langobardic was a extinct West Germanic language that was spoken by the Lombard’s who settled in Italy in the 6th century”. Loros1286 (λῶρος lōros) – “it was a long narrow and embroidered scarf, which was wrapped around the torso and dropped over the left hand.” Worn in most formal and ceremonial Byzantine costumes by the Imperial family and a few most senior officials. Byzantine Iconoclasm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Iconoclasm Iconography https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconography 1279 Cataphract https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataphract 1280 Dawson, Timothy. Sumner, Graham 2015. By the Emperor's Hand: Military Dress and Court Regalia in the later Romano- Byzantine Empire. Pg150 1281 Best description of the so-called kite-shaped shield by Ada Brun Hoffmeyer 1966. 1282 Evans, G.R 2007. The Church in the Early Middle Ages: The I.B.Tauris History of the Christian Church. Ch6 Evans described ecclesiastical differences between Greeks & Latins regarding Unleavened bread & Latins accused of Judaizing. 1283 Lentoid Shield http://battleshields.tumblr.com/post/135724654528/european-lentoid-shield-shapecommonly-mistaken 1284 Typographic ligature https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typographic_ligature 1285 Lombardic Language/People https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombardic_language 1286 Loros https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loros 1277 1278 287 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Dates back to the 7th century during the reign of Justinian II. Male and Female have their own versions/styles. The Emperor have a rectangular shape scarf wrapped around the waist/torso in a specific way following the ancient trabea (toga used by ancient Roman priests, knights etc in official ceremonies). The Empress would have the triangular shaped loros before the 10th century, but after Leo VI(?) the new design occurs with the tear/almond shaped design. The Loros was either in the <<V>> shape or <<O>> round.1287 Martyr1288(μάρτυς) – someone who suffers persecution, imprisonment, then finally death (martyrdom) for advocating or refusing to accept their persecutors alternate/opposite belief/non-belief of a religion. The are considered holy or respected by followers and sometimes venerated by them. Military Saints/Holly Warriors or Soldier Saints1289 – persecuted soldiers or monks who died (martyred) for various reasons from the (4th -12th centuries) and then the living venerated upon those icon images before and after each theme for the physical and spiritual protection of the warriors. ‘Soldier of Christ’1290 was a common epithet of Rus martyrs whether or not they had military associations (White 2016, 145). Monogram1291 – is a motif of overlapping or combining two or more letters to form a symbol. Niello1292 – is a black or dark blue mixture, usually of Sulphur, copper, silver and lead used in offsetting or inlay in metals particularly for jewelry. Typically, this technique was earliest used in Anglo-Saxon and Roman/Byzantine metal workings. Oval/Ovate1293 – is the description of some common leaf’s that are said to be egg shaped (on top) then coming to a point. The Oval/Almond shaped shield is a combination or Ovate and Spatulate (spoon shaped). Paludamentum1294 (lat. paludamenta) – In Republican or Imperial Rome this was a cloak or cape fastened at one shoulder work by military commanders. “After the reign of Augustus, the paludamentum was restricted to the Emperor.” The cloak color was general crimson, scarlet or purple. Collenberg, Wipertus H Rudt de 1971. pg361 Le <Thorakion> Rechercehes Inconographiques. Martyr https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyr 1289 Military Saint https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_saint 1290 White, Monica. 2016. Military Saints in Byzantium and Rus, 900-1200 1291 Monogram https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monogram 1292 Niello https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niello 1293 Ovate or Spatulate leaf morphology table https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_leaf_morphology 1294 Paludamentum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paludamentum 1287 1288 288 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Pelta1295 (πέλτη\ péltē) – Peltae plural for a small, semicircular, elliptical form or crescent shaped shield. Peregrina/Peregrinus1296 – is the Roman term (ca30 b.c-212+ a.d) to denote a free provincial subject of the empire who was NOT a Roman citizen. Personification1297 (in the Bible) – is the attribution of human form and characteristics to abstract concepts such as place, emotions (love, senses & qualities), buildings, geographical locations, seasons (natural forces), and is a literary motif (allegory, parables & metaphors) found in many ancient texts, including the Hebrew Bible and Christ New Testament. Phylacterium / phylactery1298 (φυλακτήριον) – Phylacteria is almost any type of object (amulets, cross, icon, oils, artifacts, etc..) that could be worn, held or used in aide in protection and personal devotion for Christians. Polysemy/Polysemic1299 – is a Greek word used for a sign/word/symbol/object that may have many meanings, interpretations or understandings. An example, the Scrolled Heart, Divided Heart and Alphaomega motif or an artefact that hasn’t yet determined the scope of understanding. Porphyrogenitus1300 (Πορφυρογέννητος) – “born in the purple” meaning that a Byzantine emperor or empress was born after or during the reign of the parent. Raven1301 – Viking & Norse imagery of a bird in black flying with its beak open dates back to the 9th century. It appears on coinage1302 Anlaf Guthfrithsson 939-941 in York, England, War banner flags of Cnut, and even presented in a banner/Standard on the Bayeux tapestry ~1070. Sacred Heart1303 – the Sacred Heart (non-inverted) devotion may have its beginnings in the 12th or 13th century due to Crusaders returning from the holy lands by the devotion and passion of Christ. By the 19th century the Sacred Heart devotion was fully embraced. AN: However, my thought is some of the inverted heart icons may have given a more educated church parishioner a connection to the blood of Christ who Pelta https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pelta, see also http://www.archaeologicalresource.com/Art/P/pel_Art/pel_Art.html?i=1 1296 Peregrin(us)a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peregrinus_(Roman) 1297 Personification in the Bible (or later texts/manuscripts) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personification_in_the_Bible 1298 Foskolou, Vicky A. THE MAGIC OF THE WRITTEN WORD: THE EVIDENCE OF INSCRIPTIONS ON BYZANTINE MAGICAL AMULETS. Pg330 1299 Polysemy a Greek word for many signs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polysemy 1300 Porphyrogenita “born in the purple”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_in_the_purple#Porphyrogennetos 1301 Raven Banner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_banner 1302 Raven Penny Anlaf Guthfrithsson https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=276513 1303 Sacred Heart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Heart 1295 289 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY was pierced on the Cross so that the heart referenced so many times in the bible has a symbolic connection. An easier symbol for Christians to understand. Shewbread1304 (lechem haPānīm) or Showbread – “Bread of the Presence” which refers to the cakes or loaves of unleavened bread which were always/constantly present on the crowned table in the Jerusalem temple in presence of God (HaShem) which had to be made on a Golden table. Sigillography1305 - also, the Greek word sphragistics, or the study of seals, attachments and their legal, heraldry, diplomatic, artistic and social historical significance in various societies. Skoutarion1306 (σκουτέριος) - Circular (conical or domed) Oval shields. Also known as (thyreos, pelta parma or aspis/hoplon “ancient Greece round”). Standard Banner or War Flag1307 – was used in war and battles as a ensign or signal, symbol of common sentiment, patriotism, honor, devotion, religion and also formation of different bands for organization. The standards date back to Early Egyptian, Assyrian and Roman campaigns. Staurogram1308 - is simply a ligature of two Greek letters the ‘T’ + ‘P’ to make the Tau Rho cross. It’s “derived from two Greek words stauros (σταυρός) meaning upright pale or stake “to drive in stakes” and gram (gramma) which means letters or written”1309. Stola/Stolae1310 - the stola was a staple garment of married women in ancient Rome. It was a long gown, suspended over the shoulders, sleeveless and worn over a tunica intima (a lighter inner shirt). Taktikon1311 – ‘Sylloge tacticorum/Compendium of Tactics’ c950 a.d. manual created by Emperor Leo VI in which he sought advice from general and he expands Maurikos ‘Strategikon’ (Στρατηγικόν) / Strategies (582-602 a.d) and other Classical military manuals. This manual is where it mentions a man-high triangular shields1312 (long three- Showbread https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showbread Sigillography https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigillography 1306 Grotowski, Peter 2010, Arms and Armour of the Warrior Saints: Tradition and Innovation in Byzantine Iconography (843–1261) pp225. 1307 Flag or Standard Banner https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Flag 1308 Staurogram https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staurogram 1309 Silver, Sandra Sweeny https://earlychurchhistory.org/christian-symbols/the-staurogram/ 1310 Stola http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/clothing2.html 1311 Taktika, by Chris and Peter Beatson http://members.ozemail.com.au/~chrisandpeter/limb_defences/limb_defences.htm#note14 1312 Grotowski, Piotr 2010. Arms and Armour of the Warrior Saints: Tradition and Innovation in Byzantine Iconography (843–1261). 1304 1305 290 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY sided shield?) designated for hoplites is occasionally quoted/referenced for the early/1st traces of the so-called >kite< shield in Byzantine army (Haldon 1975, 340).1313 Tau cross1314 – or Tav is a T-shaped cross. It is also called this because of the Greek letter tau, which in its upper-case form has the same appearance as Latin or English ‘T’. The letter for tau was used as the number for 300. The Tau-Rho cross ‘T’ + ‘P’ staurogram ⳨ is believed to have its origins in the before the 2nd century located a Greek example (σταυρον = cross) in the Bodmer Papyrus 75 (ca.175-225 a.d)1315. Tau was derived from the Phoenician letter taw which becomes the “mark” or “X” shaped taw of PaleoHebrew script.1316 More explanation by L Pflughaupt.1317 Tablion1318 – A diamond shaped, highly decorated sewn/embroidered piece of clothe (leaning right side of body) worn generally by men in the Byzantium. Starting some time in the 6th century it was a symbol of nobility, status and some instances in art as military or official ranking. Emperor Justinian and two attendants in the mosaic at San Vitale, Ravenna (ca.526-547) have different colored tablions which offset the primary color of their tunic. Tear or Teardrop1319 (δάκρυον) – tear(s) drop shape or inverted tear drop is being used in this book to describe a rounded oval top or ovate artifact style of shield >thorakion< or half >divided heart<. Theotokos1320 (Θεοτόκος) – is a title of Virgin Mary, mother of God/Christ/Jesus, used in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It was used from the 3rd century in the Syriac Tradition and the Council of Ephesus in 431 a.d. decreed Mary’s son Jesus was both God and man a divine person with 2 natures (divine and human). Madonna and child are used for Theotokos in the Western Christian tradition. “Mother of God was venerated even more widely as an intercessor in battle; long before the military saints gained prominence as imperial protectors (White 2013, 11)”. Thorakion1321 (θωράκιον) – is a garment, a scarf, shaped like a shield and studded with precious stones, worn to the belt by the Byzantine empresses. It is a synonym with saghion which was worn by emperors during official exits from the palace1322. Supplemental definition by Author – A Symbolic representation as a Holy supporter by This section of treatise also mentions the ‘four-cornered shield’ which are not found in other sources or Byzantine art. Grotowski, Peter. 2010, pg 231. 1314 Tau Cross https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tau_Cross 1315 Silver, Sandra Sweeney. Tau Rho cross article on Bodmer Papyrus 75 https://earlychurchhistory.org/christian-symbols/the-staurogram/ 1316 Peterson, Daniel 2016. Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripter, volume 22. p73 1317 Plughaupt, Laurent 2007. Letter by Letter: An Alphabetical Miscellany, p119. 1318 Fashion Institute of Technology 2017 Tablion https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/tablion/ 1319 Teardrop/Dacry/Tear https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_and_Latin_roots_in_English/D 1320 Theotokos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theotokos 1321 Thorakion https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorakion 1322 Ibid,. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorakion 1313 291 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Shielding Christian virtue as the Holy Virgin Mary for all the People of Earth. Read the full more detailed definition on Wikipedia. Thureos/Thyreos1323 (θυρεός) – was a large oval shield which was commonly used in Hellenistic armies from the 3rd century bc. It was adopted by Galatians probably first by the Illyrians, then by Thracians before becoming common in Greece. It almost identical to the Celtic shield mentioned earlier which was also found in England. Veneration1324 – or veneration of saints, is the act of honoring a saint, a person who has been identified as having a high degree of sanctity of holiness. Many cultures/theologies (Eastern Orthodox church, Roman Catholic, Eastern Catholic, Sunni Islam, branches of Buddhism, Shia Islam and other sects..) have and are practicing this today. Read the full more detailed definition on Wikipedia. Vignette1325 (vin yet) – a French word for little vines. It is a running ornament (of leaves, tendrils, Fig’s, creature, grapes, etc) however small on a mosaic, manuscript or book located at the beginning or end of a chapter. It can be used to fill a space with this small design in the margins. And most likely why the Vine ‘was a popular decorative motif’1326 and used so much in Christian art was this discovery from John 15:1 ‘I am the TRUE vine, and my Father is the keeper of the vineyard’. Volute (voluta)1327 – is the Latin term for a spiral or scroll like ornament like the basis of the Greek Ionic order ‘column’. The Greek word for scroll is papyrus. Hence, papyrus was rolled up into a scroll. The earliest form of scroll maybe biblos (βίβλος). Zion/Sion1328 (ṣiyôn) – is the place name often used as a synonym for Jerusalem, City of David or Mt, Zion a specific hill in Jerusalem located south of Mount Moriah (known as Temple Mount). Over the years as conquering nations destroyed the City of Jerusalem, Mt Zion was relocated outside the old city walls west of the City of David. This location is occasionally referred to New Mt Zion. Thyreous/Thureous shield https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyreos Veneration https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veneration 1325 Vignette https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vignette 1326 Deliyannis, Deborah Mauskopf 2010. Ravenna in Late Antiquity: AD; 7. Ravenna capital: 600-850 AD. pg77. 1327 Volute https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volute 1328 Zion/Sion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion 1323 1324 292 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY LIST OF FIGURES/ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1- Balochistan, Pakistan terracotta ca.3000 b.c. Author Illustr'd from Harappa.com Katolec collection. .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Fig. 2- Heart Amulet ca.1295-1070 b.c. Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1919. Cropped photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ............................................................................................................................... 13 Fig. 3- Egyptian men w/heart shaped shielded girdles 18th Dynasty or 1550-1292 b.c. Illustr’n credit Sir John Gardner Wilkinson 1854. ................................................................................................. 13 Fig. 4- Lotus flower and bud on Rhodian vase 6th or early 5thC b.c. Illustr. credit McGraw-Hill 1898. ........................................................................................................................................................... 14 Fig. 5- Greek Hydria Wedding Processions 520 b.c. Attica, Greece. Henry Walters from Massarenti Collect’’n 1902. Cropped photo credit the WALTERS ART MUSEUM CCZ/CC0 1.0. ........................ 15 Fig. 6- Euboic-Attic tetradrachm coin. Illustr'n credit plate XXIV, Bement 1921. ............................... 16 Fig. 7- Kyrenaika coinage ca.431-321b.c w/Silphion plant. Illustr'n credit Ward & Hill 1902. ........... 17 Fig. 8- Hellenistic filigree gold Heart applique 3rdC b.c. Greece. Photo credit The Walters Art Museum CCZ/CC0 1.0. ............................................................................................................................ 18 Fig. 9- Wine strainer 1stC b.c. Henry Walters 1928. Photo credit The Walters Art Museum purchase 1949, CCZ/CC0 1.0 PD. ............................................................................................................................ 19 Fig. 10- Leaf table of Shapes & Morphology resembling various Byzantine motifs. Illustr’n from visual cross-reference. .............................................................................................................................. 21 Fig. 11- Leo IV Solidus coin ‘IH’ staff 775-780. Photo credit Alvin-Portal PDM 1.0. ............................ 25 Fig. 12- ΙΧΘΥΣ pendant. Author Illustr'd from ebay item....................................................................... 26 Fig. 13- ΙΧΘΥΣ wheel on inner Narthex, Hagia Sophia. Cropped image credit Brad Hostetler 2018 CC BY 2.0. .................................................................................................................................................. 26 Fig. 14- Frankish ring 6thC. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo by TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ........ 27 Fig. 15- Magdala mosaic symbol 1stC a.d. Author painted from re-prod from Magdala.org 2017 mosaic photo. ........................................................................................................................................... 28 Fig. 16- IAM Maurice Tiberius coin ca.582-602. IAM Clothair II coin ca.613-629 Image credit Keary, C.F. 1879. .................................................................................................................................................... 31 Fig. 17- IAM TELAFIVS Moneyer ca.620-640. Author Illustr'd from Antiquitiesproject 2016. ............... 32 Fig. 18- Childebert IAM coin 656-661. Author Illustr'd from Antiquitiesproject 2016. ......................... 33 Fig. 19- IAM use in Aldfridus coin 685-705. Author Illustr'd from 2 of same coins 2016 & 2018. ........ 33 Fig. 20- IAM as a heart motif Merovingian early 8thC. Author illustr’d from Numisbids. ................... 34 Fig. 21- St. Hilaire IΛM coin late 7th-early 8thC. Author Illustr'd from Antiquitiesproject 2016. ......... 34 Fig. 22- IAM Childeric II coin ca.661-675 or III 743-751. Author Illustr’n & translation. ........................ 35 Fig. 23- IAM REGINAE 6th-7thC ring for mother(?) of Childeric? Author Illustr’d from BM AF.488. ..... 36 Fig. 24- IAM used in Eadvald coin 796-798. Illustr’n credit Hawkins & Kenyon 1876.......................... 36 Fig. 25- king Offa coin ca.765-792 EOBA moneyer. Cropped photo credit 2017 The PAS CC BY 3.0 & CC-BY-SA 2.0. ......................................................................................................................................... 37 Fig. 26- IAmω used in Berhtvlf coin 840-852. Illustr’n credit Hawkins & Kenyon 1876. ....................... 37 Fig. 27- IAmY use in Ciolwulf coin 840-852. Illustr’n credit Hawkins & Kenyon 1876........................... 38 Fig. 28- Le Mas-d'Agenais - Collégiale Saint-Vincent. Cropped photo credit Antoine Garnier 2014 CC BY-SA 4.0. ............................................................................................................................................. 40 Fig. 29- Funerary examples of Lambda as 'A' in Spain. Illustr’d from Jose I R Cecilia & Julieo M R Punzon photo. ........................................................................................................................................... 40 293 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 30- Shoulder lozenge w/Lambda cross. Illustr’d from Lendering photo 2018. ............................ 41 Fig. 31- Fragment with Lozenge Decoration. Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund. Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0. ....................................................................................................... 41 Fig. 32- Offa use of Lambda 'A' ca.757-796. Illustr’n credit by Hawkins 1887. ................................... 42 Fig. 33- Coenwulf use of Lambda Λ cross ends ca.796-821. Image credit by British Museum 1887. .................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Fig. 34- Eanred use of Λ Lambda ca.810-850. Illustr’n credit by Royal Numismatic Society 1869. . 43 Fig. 35- Theodotus >Aegean< font table1 with bce & a.d dated inscriptions .................................. 44 Fig. 36- Theodotus >Aegean< font table2 with bce dated inscriptions. ............................................ 46 Fig. 37- 2 square Fragments w/Figural, Animal, and Potted Botanicals Ornaments. Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0. ............................................................................................ 48 Fig. 38- Fragment w/Geometric Medallion Decoration. Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0. .................................................................................................................................................. 49 Fig. 39- Aegean A Eadbald coin 620-635. Author Illust’d from Spinks auction. ................................ 50 Fig. 40- Square Fragment with Geometric Decoration. Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0. .................................................................................................................................................. 51 Fig. 41- Fragment with Geometric Decoration. Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0. .............................................................................................................................................................. 52 Fig. 42- Small Liturgical Vessel. Photo credit The Walters Art Museum CCZ/CC0 1.0. ...................... 53 Fig. 43- Byzantine Octateuch shield ms.Vat.gr.747 ca.1050-1070. Illustr’d from original folio36r. ... 53 Fig. 44- Shoe Buckle 400-450 a.d. Hunnic or Frankish. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ............. 55 Fig. 45- SIONAw monogram Byzantium gold ring 6-7thC. Author Illustr’d from © Victoria & Albert Museum image ©. .................................................................................................................................... 56 Fig. 46- IXΘYΣAw monogram ring 6-7thC. Author Illustr’d from © British Museum image. ............... 56 Fig. 47- Gold Finger ring with Inscription, late 6th early 7thC. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................... 57 Fig. 48- Buckle 600's Byzantium, Avaric 7thC. J. H. Wade Fund. Cropped photo credit Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook CC0 1.0 PDD. ............................................................................................... 58 Fig. 49- Luckenbooth brooch of Silver ca.1750-1800. Illustrat’n credit H. Clifford Smith 1908 by NMoS. ......................................................................................................................................................... 59 Fig. 50- Justinian coin with AXO symbol ca.527-565. Image credit W.W Wroth BM 1908................. 61 Fig. 51- Merovingian 700-800a.d coin. Illustr’d from Auction item. ..................................................... 61 Fig. 52- AlphaO(ω)mega Touraine heart coin 8thC. Author Illustr'd from Sixbid 2012...................... 62 Fig. 53- Left, Coenwulf four ‘ω’ omega’s armed cross. Right, Coenwulf four divided hearts IAω on arms of cross in roundel ca.796-821. Image credit British Museum 1887. ..................................... 63 Fig. 54- AEthelweard use of dbl-'oo' for 'ω' Omega. Illustr’n credit by Hawkins 1887. ...................... 64 Fig. 55- ÆTHELRED REX ANGLORum coin w/Alpha + ‘w’ omega characters ca.987-1013 or 101416. Illustr’n credit Gibson 1722. ................................................................................................................ 65 Fig. 56- Byzantine Silver plate w/Niello inscription ca.610-613/628-630. Fletcher Fund 1952. Cropped Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. Greek characters christogram translated by illustrat’n. .................................................................................................................................................... 70 Fig. 57- AωNo 5-7thC bulla Judea. Author Illustr’d from Ebay licensed antiquities dealer. .............. 71 Fig. 58- omegas on spear ms747 f6r re-production of shield. .............................................................. 72 Fig. 59- King Geza I holding ωμέγα cross staff ca.1075 a.d. Illustr’n credit from Sándor Szilágyi 1896. ........................................................................................................................................................... 72 294 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 60- Medallion w/St. Peter from Icon frame ca.1100. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................... 73 Fig. 61- Frankish Disk Brooch ca.550-650. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ............................................................................................................................................. 73 Fig. 62- ωμέγα column. Repainted from various Illuminations or works of Art. .................................. 74 Fig. 63- Hanging with Christian images 500's. John L. Severance Fund 1982.73. Cropped photo credit Cleveland Museum of Art CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................... 75 Fig. 64- Plate w/‘Presentation of David to Saul’ ca.629-30. Cropped photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ............................................................................................................................................................ 76 Fig. 65- Lamed script table. Re-Illustrated & reduced from Jeff A. Benners table © . ...................... 78 Fig. 66- Lamed Disk Brooch Frankish mid600’s. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ........................ 79 Fig. 67- Magdala stone ‘top’ view 1stC a.d. Author Illustr’d courtesy Israel Antiquities Authority. . 82 Fig. 68- Terracotta oil lamp 1stC b.c. to 1stC a.d. Roman Cypriot. The Cesnola Collection by subscription 1874-76. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ................................................................... 85 Fig. 69- Terracotta oil lamp early 2ndC a.d. Roman, Cnidian. The Cesnola Collection by subscription 1874-76. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ................................................................... 87 Fig. 70- Fragment with Satyr and Maenad 300’s. Purchase from the J.H. Wade Fund 1975.6 Photo credit Cleveland Museum of Art CC0 1.0 PD. ....................................................................................... 88 Fig. 71- Rosette. Gift of Adelaide Goan. Photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0. ...................... 89 Fig. 72- Author Illustr'n of Λω & IAω on Brooklyn Museum rosette CC-BY 3.0.. .................................. 89 Fig. 73- Floor Mosaic & Personification of Ktisis ca.500-550. Multiple funds 1998,1999. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ............................................................................................................................... 90 Fig. 74- Viking Birka cross 900-950 a.d. Author Illustr'd from Archaeological news sites. .................. 92 Fig. 75- Hanging Cover Coptic 300-400's. Cropped Photo credit Gift of Mrs. Jesse H. Metcalf RISD museum CC0 1.0....................................................................................................................................... 93 Fig. 76- Segmentum of Achmim tapestry ‘Virgin and Child’ with Angel abt 7thC Egypt. Image credit Alexander Speltz 1915. .................................................................................................................. 94 Fig. 77- Roundel of Amazons, Hearts & Crosses. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ...................... 95 Fig. 78- Fragment Shroud of Charlemagne ~814. Photo credit 1.0 permission by NYPL 1914-15. ... 96 Fig. 79- Bathhouse mosaic Masada. Cropped Photo credit Dennis Jarvis 2016 CC BY 2.0. ........... 98 Fig. 80- Roman Mosaic near St. Albans 200 a.d. Photo credit James Clark 2013. Author illustrated monogram CC BY 2.0............................................................................................................................... 99 Fig. 81- River Tiber, Rome, Italy church mosaic 1st-4thC. Author Illustr’d from Local.it 2018.......... 100 Fig. 82- San Vitale border heart cross image. Gift of Mrs. Efrem Kurtz. Cropped photo credit MoFAH via PD. ......................................................................................................................................... 100 Fig. 83- Swan Mosaic Soli/Soloi, Northern Cyprus. Cropped photo credit George Groutas 2007 CC BY 2.0. ....................................................................................................................................................... 101 Fig. 84- Heart cross mosaic @ Agias Trias, Cyprus 6thC. Author Illustr'd from Flickr photo 2004. ... 102 Fig. 85- Colonnette Limestone Relief. Photo credit Harvard Art Museum/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Hagop Kevorkian Foundation 1975 ©...................................................................... 102 Fig. 86- Roman high military official shields. Domestici Equities (left) & Domestici Pedites (right) ca. 400a.d. Illustr’d from B&W image credit Otto Seeck 1876. ................................................................ 104 Fig. 87- Fragment of Marble Sarcophagus, 8thC(?). Cropped Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. Right, Author illustrat’n of translation. ................................................................................................... 106 Fig. 88 – ‘IX’ & Scrolled Heart monogram from Sarcophagus. Author illustr’d from Richard\Tortipede 2009. ........................................................................................................................ 107 295 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 89- Euboic-Attic tetradrachm coin. Illustr'n credit plate XXIV, Bement 1921. ........................... 108 Fig. 90- Staff of St. Peter 8th & 9thC. Illustrat’d from Hubert de Vries photo ©. ............................... 109 Fig. 91- Cylindrical Box (Pyxis). Theodore M. Davis collection 1915. Cropped photo TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................................................... 110 Fig. 92- Fragment of terracotta volute-krater ca.330-310b.c. Rogers Fund 1919. Cropped Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................. 111 Fig. 93- Etruscan Jewellery 400-200b.c.. Cropped photo credit Thorvaldesn Museum CC0 1.0 PD. .................................................................................................................................................................. 113 Fig. 94- Pelta around head of Ocean god 2nd-3rdC. Cropped photo from Jens Vermeersch 2011 CC BY 2.0. ................................................................................................................................................ 114 Fig. 95- Pelta Scrolled Hearts cross motif on Oceanus Mosaic 2nd-3rdC Portugal. Cropped photo from Jens Vermeersch 2011 - CC BY 2.0. ............................................................................................. 115 Fig. 96- Scrolled Pelta Hearts pointing toward Christ in center ca.3rd-4thC. Author Illustr’d from Museo Ostiense in Ostia Antica, Italy. .................................................................................................. 116 Fig. 97- Pelta/καρδιά mosaic early 4thC Leicester, England. Author Illustr’d from various images. .................................................................................................................................................................. 117 Fig. 98- Scrolled Heart Capital @ Cordoba 6thC. Author Illustr’d from Tamasini 1964. .................. 118 Fig. 99- Pelta Scrolled Heart mosaic from Tyre 7thC(?). Cropped Illustr’n credit by Charles Bayet 1883. ......................................................................................................................................................... 118 Fig. 100- Ear-Stud Etruscan, 6thC b.c. Photo credit Thorvaldesn Museum CC0 1.0 PD. ................. 119 Fig. 101- Pelta Hearts 'X' cross Legionary ring. Illustr’d by Author from Auction item. ..................... 119 Fig. 102- Anglo-Saxon scrolled heart cross brooch 450-550 a.d. Cropped photo credit 2014 The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC BY 3.0 & CC-BY-SA 4.0. .................................................................. 120 Fig. 103- Hunnish Fibula 4-5thC. Henry Walters 1929. Photo credit The Walters Art Museum CCZ/CC0 1.0. .......................................................................................................................................... 120 Fig. 104- Anglo-Saxon gold disc pendant early 600’s. Joseph Pulitzer Bequest 1987. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ............................................................................................................................. 121 Fig. 105- Scrolled Heart belt buckle ca.600 Lombardic. Purchase 1895. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................................................... 122 Fig. 106- Anglo-Saxon penny/sceatta ca.650-750 a.d. Cropped photo credit 2016 PAS & Hampshire Cultural Trust Generic 2.0 & CC-BY-SA 4.0. ....................................................................... 122 Fig. 107- Disk Brooch, 7th century. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .......................................................................................................................................................... 124 Fig. 108- Fragment of Tunic 5thC. Gift of George F. Baker 1890. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................................................................. 125 Fig. 109- Gregory of Nazianzus MS Gr 510 shields & scrolled hearts. Author illustr’d in color from BNF source. .............................................................................................................................................. 127 Fig. 110- Allegorical Representation of the Festival of Easter. Illustr’n credit by Lea brothers 1902. .................................................................................................................................................................. 128 Fig. 111- Roman-British Λω key handle 43-410 a.d. Cropped photo credit 2004 The PAS CC BY 3.0 & CC-BY-SA 4.0. ....................................................................................................................................... 131 Fig. 112- Lambda Λ over omega ω ring 3rdC a.d Roman. Benjamin & Lucy Rowland Fund. Author Illustr’d from MoFAB. ............................................................................................................................... 131 Fig. 113- Nereid (Sea-Nymph) from Hanging, late 300-400's. Purchase from the J.H. Wade Fund 1953.18. Author illustrat’d from photo Cleveland Museum of Art CC0 1.0 PD. ............................... 132 296 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 114- Fragment of Curtain, Late Roman 4-6thC. Photo credit Charles Potter Kling Fund & MFA ©. ............................................................................................................................................................... 133 Fig. 115- Alpha O(w)mega heart cross. Cropped photo credit MAA © Budapest 2017 NP. ........ 134 Fig. 116- Inverted 2-toned divided hearts Shalom AI synagogue. Author Illustr’d from various images. ..................................................................................................................................................... 135 Fig. 117- +SANTCVS APOLENARIS with inverted golden hearts ca.549. Image credit Turismo.ra.it (Tourism of Italy). ..................................................................................................................................... 136 Fig. 118- Alpha/Αλφα & Omega/ωμέγα of cross arms in apse of Saint Apollinare in Class, Ravenna, Italy ca.6thC. Cropped photo credit pequod76. ............................................................. 137 Fig. 119- Figures in Niches or Arcades. Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund. Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.................................................................................................................. 139 Fig. 120- Mosaic of St. Demetrios Basilica Church of Thessaloniki 7thC. Cropped photo credit Мико 2016 PDM 1.0. ............................................................................................................................... 140 Fig. 121- Table patterns of Inverted Heart shapes found. Redrawn from various illuminations, enamels or mosaics. ............................................................................................................................... 140 Fig. 122- Medallion of Saint Paul from Icon frame. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ............................................................................................................................. 142 Fig. 123- Medallion of Saint George from Icon frame. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................. 142 Fig. 124- Rune stone U 1172 ca.1000-50 a.d. in Sweden. Redrawn from Alicia Grenberger illustr’n for Anne-Sophie Gräslund 2015. ........................................................................................................... 144 Fig. 125- Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt 5-6thC. Gift of Dr. Lillian Malcove. Photo image Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.................................................................................................................. 145 Fig. 126- Syrian Tile glass. Rogers Fund 1946. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ........................... 146 Fig. 127- Double Alphaomega/Dble Inverted Heart. Repainted from various photographs. ...... 147 Fig. 128- Terracotta femal figurine fragment ca.600-480 b.c. Cropped photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................................................... 149 Fig. 129- Legionary or Roman soldier rings 1st-3rdC. Author Illustr’d from various images. ............ 149 Fig. 130- Justinian Soldiers on San Vitale mosaic panel. Cropped photo credit user london road 2011 - CC BY 2.0. ..................................................................................................................................... 150 Fig. 131- Coptic Fragment. Photo credit Harvard Art Museum/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Carroll F. Wales 2002 ©. .......................................................................................................................... 151 Fig. 132- Pound weight 6th century, inlaid in silver with military saints via British Museum. Illustration Credit by O.M. Dalton 1911. .................................................................................................................. 151 Fig. 133- Byzantine Bronze Ring 5th-10thC. Author Illustrat’d from Hix.Antiquitatis 2019................. 152 Fig. 134- Alpha Arrow spear tip Illustr’d from Archangel Gabriel La Martorana, Palermo, Italy. .. 152 Fig. 135- San Vitalis shoulder badge 6thC San Vitale, Ravenna. Author Illustrat’d from Malcom Bott photo 2014. ...................................................................................................................................... 153 Fig. 136- Alpha-Arrow pointer found on Varangian Warriors on the monastery of Nea Moni, Greece ca.1049. Repainted from various photographs. .................................................................. 153 Fig. 137- Fabric Fragment Pheon motif. Rotated photo credit MAA © Budapest 2017 NP. .......... 154 Fig. 138- Malchus betrayal scene @ Nea Moni. (Icons courtesy of www.eikonografos.com, used with permission). ...................................................................................................................................... 155 Fig. 139- AAST or Nebo pointer in Chapel of Theotokos in Wadi ‘Ayn al-Kanish and Sts Lot & Procopius, Mukhayyat, Mt. Nebo in Jordan. Author Illustr’d from Hachlili 2009. ............................. 155 Fig. 140- Alpha-Arrow found on shields ms.gr.747. Author Illustr’n from manuscript....................... 157 297 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 141- Door front of Varangian guard with Arrow in Skylitzes f27/62. ca.1080/1100+. Author penciled color image from various images. ....................................................................................... 158 Fig. 142- Some various Mason arrow marks of early sites. Select image Illustr’n credit Laurie 1859. .................................................................................................................................................................. 159 Fig. 143- Pipal pottery examples. Author Illustr'd from 3 sources. ...................................................... 160 Fig. 144- Terracotta vessel fragment ivy pattern. The Cesnola Collection by exchange 1911. Cropped photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ..................................................................................... 161 Fig. 145- Top fragment of a kudurru with mushhushshu dragon & divine symbols ca.1156-1025 b.c. Rogers Fund 1985. Cropped Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ..................................................... 162 Fig. 146- Alabaster cinerary urn 3rdC b.c. Purchase 1896. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .... 163 Fig. 147 - Terracotta statuette of a draped, standing woman 3rdC b.c. Rogers Fund 1906. Cropped Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ..................................................................................... 164 Fig. 148- Penelope murial Zeugma, Turkey. Author Illustr'd from Pilar Torres photo 2011. .............. 165 Fig. 149- Spade of Peacock in mosaic of Carthage, Tunisia, Africa ca.4th-5thshaft century in British Museum. Cropped Illustr’n credit William Lethaby 1904. ................................................................... 167 Fig. 150- Spade (Fig leaf) mosaic at Mor Gabriel, Midyat, Turkey. Author Illustr’d from Tripadvisor. .................................................................................................................................................................. 168 Fig. 151- Spades on Golden ceiling. Cropped image credit Brian Jeffery Beggerly 2011 ............ 169 Fig. 152- Band Fragment w/Botanical Decoration. Photo image via Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0. .................................................................................................................................................................. 169 Fig. 153- Garment decoration Spade/Flame motif. Acquired by Henry Walters. Cropped photo credit The Walters Art Museum CCZ/CC0 1.0. .................................................................................... 169 Fig. 154- Sleeve Fragment 5-6thC. Gift of George F. Baker 1890. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................................................................. 170 Fig. 155- Buckle with Embossed Head in Profile ca.400-600 Byzantine. Grace Rainey Rogers Fund. Photo credit Cleveland Museum of Art CC0 1.0. ............................................................................... 171 Fig. 156- Mosaic at Moses Basilica, Mt. Nebo, Jordan 5-6thC. Cropped photo credit by flowcomm 2018 CC BY 2.0..................................................................................................................... 172 Fig. 157- Child's Tunic 601-700a.d. Gift of Martin A. Ryerson to the Antiquarian Society. Photo credit The Art Institute of Chicago CC0 1.0 PDD. ............................................................................... 174 Fig. 158- Spades at Virgin Mary church, Madaba, Jordan. Cropped photo credit by Ankur P 2018 CC BY 2.0. ................................................................................................................................................ 175 Fig. 159- Guilloche Lattice with Pinecone(?) 7-9thC. Gift of Nanette B. Kelekian, in honor of Nobuko Kajitani 2002. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ................................................................ 176 Fig. 160- Spade on comb of St. Heribert ca.850-900. Cropped Illustr’d from Schunutgen Museum. .................................................................................................................................................................. 177 Fig. 161- Spade with cross-Club (trefoil) inset ca.10th-11thC. Repainted from pendant example with Cloisonné-technique. ..................................................................................................................... 178 Fig. 162 - Lamp 6th century Byzantine. Fletcher Fund 1947. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. . 180 Fig. 163- Spade with Club-cross (trefoil) inset ca.10th-11thC. Author Illustr’d from pendant example with Cloisonné-technique. ..................................................................................................................... 180 Fig. 164- Praefectus Augustalis Lybia and Arcadia provinces f109v. Author Ilustr’d from MS Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. ............................................................................................... 181 Fig. 165- St. Maria Antiqua, Rome curtain 741-752 a.d. Author Illustr'n from Gallagher & StefanoRomeTours 2016. ........................................................................................................................ 182 298 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 166- Emperor Nicephoros Botaniates enthroned ca.1078-81. Illustr’n from J H Middleton 1892. .................................................................................................................................................................. 183 Fig. 167- Drachm coin with Diomedes ca.400-322b.c. Illustr'n credit Ward & Hill 1902. ................. 187 Fig. 168- Caped Horseman w/Spear ~ca240b.c. Illustr’n credit by H.A.Grueber 1910. ................. 189 Fig. 169- Goblet personifying 4 Byzantine Cities 700's. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ............................................................................................................................. 191 Fig. 170- Barberini Ivory 6thC. Cropped photo Steven Zucker 2012 BY NC SA 2.0. .......................... 193 Fig. 171- HANAC TACIC scene Nea Moni, Chios, Greece. (Icons courtesy of www.eikonografos.com, used with permission). ................................................................................ 196 Fig. 172- Deidamia murial Zeugma, Turkey. Author Illustr'd from Pilar Torres photo 201. ................ 197 Fig. 173- Trefoil openwork Byzantine gold ring. Author Illustr'd from ancient-art.co.uk. ................. 198 Fig. 174- Macedonian Stars on Corcyra, Greek coins ca 300-229 b.c. Coins image credit Peter Gardner 1883........................................................................................................................................... 199 Fig. 175- Military Thracian shield examples. Constantini Dafneses (left) & Balistarii Dafneses (right) ca.400a.d. Illustr. credit Otto Seeck 1876. ........................................................................................... 199 Fig. 176- Eye in Tapestry from Achmim, Egypt dates 5th-7thC. Symbol of divine omniscience. Image credit Walter Lowrie 1901. ......................................................................................................... 201 Fig. 177- Hanging w/Peacock Images 500's. Cropped photo credit CMA CC0 1.0 PD. .............. 202 Fig. 178- Alemannic ring 7thC w/[A]lpha over inverted o[M]ega. Photo credit original source unknown. ................................................................................................................................................. 204 Fig. 179- Theodora (left) & Justinian (right) mosaic in San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy ca.547 a.d. Cropped Image illustr’n credit Walter Lowrie 1901. ........................................................................... 205 Fig. 180- Tear shaped marks w/no dot or period. Redrawn from True cross Reliquary box........... 206 Fig. 181- Christ blessing Leo VI w/tear marks on Imperial robe Rome/David casket ca.898-900. Redrawn from various images............................................................................................................... 207 Fig. 182- Disk Brooch, 6th century Frankish. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ........................................................................................................................................... 208 Fig. 183- Byzantine Garnet Cameo ring “ET VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST” ca.6th-7thC. Author Illustr’d from Christies auction house. ................................................................................................... 209 Fig. 184- king Offa examples of tear marks in coinage. Image credit British Museum 1887. ........ 210 Fig. 185- Canute/CNUT the Great "partially hidden" tear-shaped shielded cross. Photo credit H A Parsons BNJ 1915. .................................................................................................................................... 211 Fig. 186- Harthacnut "shielded cross” 1035-37. Photo credit H A Parsons BNJ 1915. ...................... 212 Fig. 187- Harold I "shielded cross”. Photo credit H A Parsons BNJ 1915. ........................................... 212 Fig. 188- Edward Confessor "expanding" shielded cross. Photo credit H A Parsons BNJ 1917. ..... 213 Fig. 189- Disk Brooch 6th Century Frankish. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan 1917. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ........................................................................................................................................... 213 Fig. 190- Byzantium, Northern Syria, Byzantine period 5thC Capital. John L. Severance Fund 1969.110. Photo credit CMA - CC0 1.0. ................................................................................................ 214 Fig. 191- Column Capital 6thCE. Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund. Cropped photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0. ................................................................................................................................ 215 Fig. 192- Exclamation mark lining the borders of Warriors, Saints or Imperial clothing. Author Illustr’n from various Byzantine art. ........................................................................................................ 216 Fig. 193- Fragment from a Coptic Hanging 5thC. Gift of George F. Baker 1890. Cropped photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................. 218 Fig. 194- Rosette. Gift of Adelaide Goan. Photo image The Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0. .......... 218 299 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 195- St. Maurice d’Agaune, Sitten, Switzerland textile relic 5thC. Photo image credit permission by NYPL 1914-15. .................................................................................................................. 219 Fig. 196- Fragment with Botanical Decoration. Gift of Adelaide Goan. Photo image via The Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.................................................................................................................. 220 Fig. 197- Fabric fragment, Coptic (Egypt). Cropped photo credit MAA © Budapest 2017 NP. ... 220 Fig. 198- Fragment of Chicken & roundel cross. Gift of Martin A. Ryerson through Antiquarian Society. Cropped photo credit The Art Institute of Chicago CC0 1.0 PDD..................................... 221 Fig. 199- Roundel with Multicolored Ivy Leaves. Photo credit Harvard Art Museum/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Denman W. Ross 1917 ©. ............................................................................. 222 Fig. 200- Childs coat w/Ducks in Pearls 700's Sogdiana. J.H. Wade Fund. Cropped photo credit CMA CC0 1.0 PDD. ................................................................................................................................. 223 Fig. 201- Imperial Byzantine textile 8thC relic. Photo credit by Otto Falke 1913. ........................... 223 Fig. 202- Cropped roundel from Fragment Shroud of Charlemagne ~814. Cropped photo credit permission by NYPL 1914-15. .................................................................................................................. 224 Fig. 203- Byzantine Roman Key ring with Inscription 4thC. Gift of Taylor L. Thompson 2016. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................. 225 Fig. 204- Byzantine Gold & Enamel Finger Ring. 10thC a.d. Author Illustr’d from Christies ©. ........ 225 Fig. 205- Blue Hearts shape of ‘X’ above Christs cross. Maroon Hearts shaped of 't' below Virgins arms of cross. Author Illustr’d from TheMet book 1984. ...................................................................... 226 Fig. 206- Pendant Cross 5th-8thC. Rogers Fund 1912. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ........... 228 Fig. 207- Bracelet from Olbia Treasure 2nd-1stC b.c. Henry Walters 1921. Cropped photo credit The Walters Art Museum CCZ/CC0 1.0 PDD. ....................................................................................... 229 Fig. 208- Disk brooch ca.600. Harris Brisbane Dick Fund 1952. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................................................................. 231 Fig. 209- David Presented to Saul, Egyptian 7-8thC. 1977 purchase. Cropped photo credit The Walters Art Museum CCZ/CC0 1.0. ....................................................................................................... 232 Fig. 210- Emperor Alexander in the Hagia Sophia. Cropped photo credit Brad Hostetler 2011 CC BY 2.0. ....................................................................................................................................................... 233 Fig. 211- Tree of Life. Author repainted from various Enamels or Illuminations. ............................... 234 Fig. 212- Band Fragment w/S-Motif Decoration. Gift of the Egypt Exploration Fund. Photo credit Brooklyn Museum CC-BY 3.0.................................................................................................................. 238 Fig. 213- Author Illustr'd shield w/S motif ca.825. ................................................................................. 239 Fig. 214- +EADMVND REX coin w/RS outside the cross ca.941-946. Photo credit Grueber 1899. . 240 Fig. 215- RS on door in front of Varangian guard shown in the Skylitzes f27/62. ca.1080/1100+. Author penciled color image from various images. ........................................................................... 241 Fig. 216- Etruscan amulet w/arrowhead 5thC b.c. Cropped photo credit Thorvaldesn Museum CC0 1.0..................................................................................................................................................... 242 Fig. 217- Celtic ring 4-5thC. Gift of Josef & Brigitte Hatzenbuehler 2009. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................................................... 243 Fig. 218- Disk Brooch ca.600. Harris Brisbane Dick Fund 1952. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. .................................................................................................................................................................. 244 Fig. 219- Disk brooch with Cameo ca.600 (mount) 100-300 (cameo). Museum Purchase 1985. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ...................................................................................................... 245 Fig. 220- Anglo-Saxon pin ca.700-900a.d. Cropped photo credit 2014 PAS via Norwich Castle Museum Trust Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 & CC-BY-SA 4.0. .................................................................. 245 300 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 221- Gold bracelet ca.650 Byzantine. Gift of Alastair Bradley Martin 1952. Photo credit TheMet CC0 1.0 PDD. ............................................................................................................................. 248 Fig. 222- Left, 23k gold enameled heart ca.927-966 Veliki Preslav, Bulgaria. Right, believed to be the correct IH position of jewel appliqué for empress’s dress. Author Illustr’d from Prof Stoycho Bonev photo. ........................................................................................................................................... 249 Fig. 223- divided heart bible held by Christ mosaic Hagia Sophia. Cropped photo credit David Spender 2009 CC BY 2.0. ....................................................................................................................... 250 Fig. 224- Kyrikus frescoe in St. Maria Antiqua ca.741-52. Author Illustr'd cropped image from Zucker 2016. ............................................................................................................................................. 251 Fig. 225- seal of Leon Lalacon with St. Demetrius on the face ca.901-906. Image credit Gustave Leon Schlumberger 1884. ...................................................................................................................... 254 Fig. 226- St. Eudokia Imperatrice mosaic plaque ca.907 @ monastery Constantine Lips (Fenaria Isa Camii), Istanbul, Turkey. Author Illustr’d from various images +Jerphanion 1930. ..................... 255 Fig. 227- Left, Saint Eudokia >Thorakion< mirror image as an inverted heart. Right, Eudokia >Saints< shield mirror image of itself in the form of a >heart<. Author Illustr’d from Wikimedia. ... 256 Fig. 228- Left, Bust of St. Theodore for Théodore de Colonée Jan 8th, 970.ΘΕΟΔΩPω ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΗ ΘΕΟΎΠΟΑΕΩϚ ΜΕΓΑΛϞϛ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΙΑς Illustr’n credit C.E.Ruelle 1900. Right, Interpretive Illustr’n of >half heart< shaped shield. ................................................................................................................... 259 Fig. 229- Left, Empress Theodora wife (d.867) of Emperor Theophilus in 830. ‘Menologian of Basil II’ MS Vat.Gr 1613 f392, ca.1000-25 a.d. Right, Reconstructed Theodora’s >Thorakion< shield from various images. Author illustr’d from Jerphanion 1930/Collenberg 1971 & others. ........................ 260 Fig. 230- The Menologian of Basil II ms shields ca.1000-25 a.d. Illustr’d from Vatican source........ 261 Fig. 231- Constantine I & Helena (mother) narthex of Hosios Loukas, Stiris, Greece ca.1011/1030. Left, cropped Image credit Schultz & Barnsley 1901. Right, reconstructed Helena shield of wood from various images. .............................................................................................................................. 262 Fig. 232- Yaroslov silver coin minted in Kiev dated 1019-1054 or 1037+ and one in Novgorod in 1014?. Illustr’n Credit Schlumberger 1896. .......................................................................................... 264 Fig. 233- Constantine Diogenes seal, Byzantine General early 11thC dated before 1029. Image Credit Gustave Schlumberger 1896. .................................................................................................... 265 Fig. 234- Varangian guard w/shield in Nea Moni, Chios, Greece. Author Illustr’d from various sources. .................................................................................................................................................... 266 Fig. 235- Betrayal scene of Malchus w/shield in Nea Moni, Chios, Greece ca.1049-55. Facsimile photo image credit exploregreece. Right, Shield from betrayal scene, reconstructed from various images. ....................................................................................................................................... 267 Fig. 236- Theodore Psalter shields MS 19352 Greek ca.1066. Author Illustr’d from source. ............ 269 Fig. 237- Bayeux tapestry scene 15, ‘The Four Horsemen’, 1st with spears. Cropped Image credit Hilaire Belloc 1914. .................................................................................................................................. 271 Fig. 238- Norman cross shields. Cropped image credit Hilaire Belloc 1914. .................................... 271 Fig. 239- Saxon cross shields. Cropped image credit Hilaire Belloc 1914. ........................................ 272 Fig. 240- Pala D’Ora, Venice. Byzantine Enameled Gold panel of Empress Irene (752-803) dates to 1071/81 or 1105. Author Illustr’d from Peter Flickr 2010 & Jerphanion 1930/Collenberg 1971. . 273 Fig. 241- Varangian guard with shield shown in the Skylitzes f27/62. ca.1080/1100+. Author penciled from various images. .............................................................................................................. 273 Fig. 242- Bab al-Nasr gate, Fatmid, Egypt ca.1087. Redrawn image from various sources. ......... 274 Fig. 243- Barberini Psalter crowning of Alexius Comnenus, John Comnenus & Empress Irene ca.1080/1092. Image credit Charles Diehl 1910. ................................................................................ 275 301 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Fig. 244- Israel/Palestine map in shape of >Thorakion< shield? City of David maps with Mt. Zion. Redrawn from various sources. ............................................................................................................. 278 Fig. 245- Manuel I Comnenus bulla/coin ca.1143 – 1180. Illustr’d from various sources. ............... 279 Fig. 246- Era seal during Comnenos ca.1143-80. Image Credit Gustave Schlumberger 1884. ..... 279 Fig. 247- Maria of Antioch (1143-80) Empress wife of Manuel I Komnenos (1145-82).S Gr.Vat 1176 folio11. Author Illustr’d from various images. ....................................................................................... 280 CHRONOLOGICAL TIMELINE:1329 10,000 b.c – 1300’s a.d Event/Occurrence, etc ‘T’ shaped monoliths are oldest pictograph shape known to date Reign of David Reign of Solomon Yellow Gold hearts surrounding the top of the cup of Kantharoid Skyphos1330 Philetairos, king of Pergamon has an Ivy leaf in the shape of a Heart on a coin reverse.1331 Hellenization of Middle East1332 Maccabees ‘Jewish’ revolt against Hellenistic Empire influence of Seleucids Greek gods Roman Emperor Claudius invades Britain, sets up Colchester as Roman admin.1333 Roman Emperor Constantine renamed Byzantion/um to Vergilius (Virgil’s Aeneid) Vaticanus lat 3225. Roman Round shields XIXr, XXIIr, XXIIIr, XXXIr, XXXIXr, Earliest(?) Spade occurs in Mosaic Justinian dynasty Dionysius Exiguus invented Anno Domini dating system Location Göbekli Tepe, Turkey Middle East Middle East Aison, Greece Date ~10,000 b.c 1010-971 b.c 971-931 b.c 400 b.c Greece 282-263 b.c Middle East including Holy Land Judea 333 b.c 167-160 b.c Colchester, Britain 43 a.d Nova Roma/ Constantinople Rome 330 a.d Late 4thC Carthage,Africa Byzantine Empire Scythia 5thC 518-602 525 Chronology and Timeline from many sources including and not limited to Prosopography of the Byzantine World http://db.pbw.kcl.ac.uk/jsp/narrativetree.jsp 1330 O’Rourke, Johh 2017. Matters of the heart: Where does the Heart symbol come from? http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5pKMTzBn2GYd4Cjlm4rKnB7/matters-of-the-heart-where-doesthe-symbol-come-from 1331 Philetairos coin with Ivy in shape of heart http://www.ancientresource.com/lots/greek/greekcoins/coins-ancient-healing.html 1332 Hellenization of middle east https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/art#christian 1333 Anglo-Saxons British Museum timeline p6 https://www.britishmuseum.org/PDF/Visit_Anglo_Saxons_KS2.pdf 1329 302 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif Heraclian dynasty of Emperors Byzantine Empire King Offa builds dyke to separate Wales Britain from England1334 Lindisfarne/British Isles Vikings raid on Lindisfarne monastery. Begins raiding era of British Isles1335 Utrecht Psalter Illumination Manuscript Reims, France Amorian dynasty Byzantine Empire 1st actual record of a diamond shaped Reims, France Kite shield on folio 79v in Utrecht Psalter Stuttgart Psalter latin (Cod.bibl.fol.23) St. Germain, Paris, made at Abbey St.Germain. Round France shields. Oseburg Ship Burial w/Tapestry Vestfold, Norway Spade occurs in illumination MS Grec 20 Byzantine empire Macedonian/Armenian dynasty Byzantine Empire Grégoire de Nazianze ms Grec 510 Greek Kiev was founded under Prince Oleg of Kievan Rus’ (Russian) Novgorod Rabbula/Rabula “Syriac” Gospel Florence, Italy monastery of St. John of Zagba. Plut 1 56 Samarra, Iraq Samarra Art Stucco & Interior of House beveled “upside down kite shields?” doubtful Leo VI begins the role of the martyr Constantinople Seal of Leon Lalacon with St. Demetrius Byzantine spear & shield on the face. Byzantine city sacked by Arabs at Thessalonica, Greece Empress Eudokia Baiane plaque from the Istanbul, Turkey Monastery Lips (Fenari Isa Camii) Vat Reg.Grk.1 Bible of Leo Sakellarios w/ Constantinople Red Hearts in vignettes. Folios 2r, 46v, 116r, 383r Odbert Psalter (MS 20 Boulogne) written by France St. Bertin. Marcianus Graecus Z.454[=822] /Venetus Byzantine A “text” Evangeliar Gospels of Otto III – HSS Clm Reichenau Abbey, 4453 five ovalish shields Swabia, Germany -2 Green and 3 dark Orange pointed Oval Reichenau, Germany shields Bamberg Apocalypse MS.Bibl.140 abt1010. Reichenau, Germany Round Oval shields p30, 43?,46, and 55. 1334 1335 Ibid, Anglo-Saxons British Museum timeline p6 Ibid, Anglo-Saxons British Museum timeline p6 J.S. FRIDAY 610-695 760 793 820-835 820-867 ~830 820-830. 1st half 9thC ~834 850-900 867-1056 879-883 ~882 897-1399 9TH cent ~900 901-906 904 c907 950’s 999 10th cen c1000 c1000 c1000-20 303 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif Menologion of Basil II, Emperor 976-1025 MS Vat gr 1613. Oval shield pg383, Loros/Thorakion shield pg392. Ivory Situlae (Holy Water basin) of Aachen Cathedral with 6 round ovalish shields. Cnut the Dane rode/fought under a Raven banner. Harley Psalter MS 603 Illumination Manuscript “text” Emperor Constantine I “Great” & mother Helena mosaic in narthex of Hosios Loukas/St. Luke General Constantine Diogenes shielded seal Yaroslav the Wise, St.George shielded coin Harley Psalter MS 603 Illumination Manuscript Artist F for oval shields “original illustrations” Conrad II elected king of Germany Eunuch Orestes went to Italy with Rus’(Vikings), Turks etc.. for plan to capture Sicily. Plan ended on death of Basil II. Cotton MS Claudius B IV Old English Hexateuch by St.Augustine have “round & ovalish shields w/pointed bosses”. Ripoll Bible produced William of Normandy was born in Codex Aureus Epternacensis (Echternach) Robert/ODO born to Herleve & Herluin of (Robert dies), Duke William aged 7 succeeds to Constantine Diogenes Byzantine general who fought in Balkans and Bulgaria under Basil II died in 1032 Harald Sigurdsson in Constantinople CNUT “Shielded Cross” coin produced posthumous by Emma Gunhild/Canegonda daughter of Canute marries emperor Henry II 300 mounted Normans via Byzantine expedition. Harley Psalter MS 603 Illumination Manuscript Artist F for Oval shields “added illustrations” J.S. FRIDAY Byzantine/Rome c1000-25 Lotharingen, Germany Ashingdon, England ~1000-24 Anglo-Saxon, England Stiris near Distomo, Boeotia, Greece c10101150 built 1011/1030 Byzantine 1014-1029 Kiev Anglo-Saxon, England 1019-54 c10201032 or 10201053/73 1024 April 1025/1027 Germany Italy/Sicily 1016 Canterbury, England 1025-1150 Catalonia, Spain Falaise, Normandy Trier, Germany Conteville, France Normandy 1027-32 1027/28 1030-50 1031 1035 Greek, Byzantine 1032 Constantinople near London, England 1035-44 1035/36 Germany 1036 Sicily 1038 Anglo-SaxonNorman(?), England 1040-90 304 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif Varangian campaigns in Sicily Edward the Confessor returns from exile to be King of Constantine permanent settlement of the Normans in Encomium Emmae Reginae written probably by a monk at Saint-Bertin William defeats Norman rebels at Val- èsDunes William of Normandy visits King Edward in Biblia Sancti Petri Rodensis (Roda Bible) has oval shields. f19v, 134r,144v+r, 145v, 270, Schism in the region btw east & west churches Normans capture town/crush Byzantine power in Southern Italy Edward the Confessor rules King Harold of Norway killed @ Stamford Bridge William the Bastard/William the Conqueror rules Theodore Psalter MS 19352, monk from Caesarea Bayeux Tapestry created for Normans Madrid Skylitzes – a Byzantine Illumination Pala d’Oro panel of Empress Irene of Athens c752-803. Probably created before c975 1st triangular shield of Michael/Mavrikas, proedros & doux(duke) of the Boukellarioi Barberini Psalter gr.372 f5r Thorakion shield Pala d’Oro panel of Empress Irene of Athens c752-803. “Paneled/Framed by 1100-05” BL Cotton MS Titus D XVI Psychomachia f6v – curved Kite shield in “Conflicts of the Soul”. Miscellany on the Life of St. Edmund MS 376 Alexiad by Anna Komnene Geoffrey V,Count of Anjou died. Triangular shield on tomb Catherine of Alexandria Thorakion. Monastery of Osijos Lucas. Cluniac monastery of La Charité-sur-Loire (Harley MS 2895) J.S. FRIDAY Sicily England 1038-41 1042 Apulia, Italy circa 1042 1041-43 Saint-Omer, Flanders, France Val- ès-Dunes, France England Catalonia, Spain 1051 1050-1100 Constantinople 1054 Otranto, Italy 1055 England England 1042-66 Sept 25, 1066 Late 1066Feb 1066 England & France Constantinople 1047 Canterbury, England Greek\Greece St. Marks, Venice ~1070 ~1080+ 1071/81 or 1105 Bucellarian (in Asian Minor) Greek/Vatican St. Marks, Venice ~1076 1080/1092 1100-05 Albany, England 1120 Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, England Byzantine Le Mans, France 1130 1143-53 Sept 1151 Phocis, Greece 1162 France 1175-1200 305 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Liber ad honorem Augusti by Pietro da Eboli Marcianus Graecus Z.454[=822] /Venetus A “illustrations” folio 4v Empress Helena & last(?) Thorakion MS 499 Morgan Library & Museum Russian wire money sometimes in ‘tear’ shaped shields started in 14th century. Palermo, Italy 1197 Byzantine 12th cen Constantinople 1375-99 Russia 14thC BIBLIOGRAPHY Recommended Reading, Research and Review. Feel Good, Inspire, Educate and Learn about various histories, including the experience of cultures throughout our world. Get out and visit the Museums – a few of my online favorites for Byzantine related artifacts. Metmuseum (in New York) est. 1870 has a variety of items including 5000 years of culture. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search British Museum (in England) est. 1753 has over 8 million objects of world cultures and eras http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx The Walters Art Museum est. 1934 36,000 objects in the collection. https://thewalters.org/experience/collections/ or browse https://art.thewalters.org/browse/ Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) est. 1913 Thousands of items including Byzantine and Coptic textiles https://www.clevelandart.org/art/collection/search Yousef Jameel Center @ Ashmolean Museum (Oxford, England) Textiles, etc http://www.jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/collection/4/1257/1263/all/sort_by/seqn Museum of Fine Arts (Boston) est. 1870 85,000 works of Art in Ancient world alone https://www.mfa.org/collections https://www.mfa.org/collections/search Art Institute of Chicago est. 1879 Worldly collections, including coins, Egyptian and Byzantine artefacts. https://www.artic.edu/collection Thorvaldsen Museum (Copenhagen, Denmark) est. 1848 http://www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk/en/collections/ Victoria and Albert Museum (London) est. 1852 1,209,100 objects https://collections.vam.ac.uk/ 306 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Brooklyn Museum (New York) est. 1897 https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/collectionsa variety of items including a large collection of Coptic Christian items https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/collection The Morgan Library & Museum est. 1924 a variety of items. Illuminations, including a large collection of book bindings with various motifs. https://www.themorgan.org/collection/coptic-bindings The State Hermitage Museum http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/woa-search/#search Harvard Art Museums (Massachusetts) https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/ Henry Art Museum a collection of Coptic fragments and modern textiles https://collections.henryart.org/ Dumbarton Oaks (in DC) Coins, Seals, etc. http://www.doaks.org/resources/manuscripts-in-the-byzantine-collection or http://atom.doaks.org/atom/ https://www.doaks.org/visit/museum BIBLIOGRAPHY REFERENCES Bloch, R. Howard, 2006. A Needle in the Right Hand of GOD – The Norman Conquest of 1066 and the making and meaning of the Bayeux Tapestry. Collenburg, Wipertus-Hugo Rudt de, 1971 article “Le Thorakion’: Rescherches Inconographiques”. Foskolou, Vicky A, THE MAGIC OF THE WRITTEN WORD: THE EVIDENCE OF INSCRIPTIONS ON BYZANTINE MAGICAL AMULETS. Friday, J.S, 2015. Research into the Genealogy and Origin History of the Fridinger Families of Medieval Europe and into Colonial Southern America.: The Swabian Connection - Expanded Edition Garipzanov, Ildar H. 2018. Graphic Signs of Authority in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, 300-900. Pp, 27,29. Grotowski, Peter 2010, Arms and Armour of the Warrior Saints: Tradition and Innovation in Byzantine Iconography (843–1261) 307 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Hachlili, Rachel, 2009. Ancient Mosaic Pavements: Themes, Issues, and Trends Selected Studies. Hachlili, Rachel, 2013. Ancient Synagogues - Archaeology and Art: New Discoveries and Current Research. Pp521,523-524 Hoddinott, R.F. 1963 Early Byzantine Churches in Macedoniaand Souther Serbia. A Study of the Origins and the Initial Development of East Christian Art. Inman, Thomas 1884. Ancient pagan and modern Christian symbolism. Inostrancev, C.A, 1926 Sasanian Military Theory pp.7-52. Jerphanion, Guillaume de, 1930. Le Thorakion Caracteristique Iconographique du XIe Siecle. Mango, Cyril, 1973. "Eudocia Ingerina, the Normans, and the Macedonian Dynasty," Zbornik radova Vizantoloskog Instituta, XIV-XV, p17-27. MMoA/Metropolitan Museum of Art (TheMet): multiple items from online collection search. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection Osprey – Campaign 013 - Hastings 1066.pdf Peloubet, Francis Nathan, 1878. Select Notes on the International Sabbath School Lessons, Volume 5 Rex, Peter, 2011. 1066 A New History of the Norman Conquest Sturluson, Snorri, 2005. King Heralds Saga. Chronological table pg180. Vallancey, Charles 1802. Prospectus of a dictionary of the language of the aire coti, or Ancient Irish compared with the language of the cuti, or ancient Persians with the Hindoostanee, the Arabic and Chaldean languages: With a preface, containing an epitome of the ancient history of Ireland. Veldmeijer, Andre J, Ikram, Alima 2013 Chasing Chariots: Proceedings of the first international chariot conference (Cairo 2012) Vries, Hubert de, 2015. http://www.hubert-herald.nl/Heart.htm Wessel, Klaus. 1967. Byzantine Enamels from the 5th to the 13th century. West, Ed, 2017. 1066 and Before All That: The Battle of Hastings, Anglo-Saxon and Norman England. 308 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY White, Monica, 2006. (Byzantion journal vol 76, pp. 330-363), Byzantine Visual Propaganda and The Inverted Heart Motif. White, Monica, 2016. Military Saints in Byzantium and Rus, 900-1200 Public Domain &/or Misc Image Site References Achive.org Internet Archive of old books, media, etc https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ British Library Flickr Commons account https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary Getty opencontent program www.getty.edu/about/whatwedo/opencontent.html Digital Public Library of America https://dp.la/ with association of hathitrust.org New York Public Library https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/search/ http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/ Thorvaldsens Museum - Copenhagen, Denmark has many CC0 images http://www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk/en/contact/use-of-photos/public-domain Brooklyn Museum - Brooklyn, New York also has many CC BY 3.0 images https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection Walters Art Museum of Baltimore, Maryland has many CCo NRR images https://art.thewalters.org/license/ Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York has many OA 1.0 Public Domain images https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ Nea Moni and Hosios Loukas churches in Greece. Icons courtesy of www.eikonografos.com, used with permission http://eikonografos.com/terms.php Boulogne MS 20 St. Bertin http://www.enluminures.culture.fr/documentation/enlumine/fr/BM/boulogne-surmer_048-01.htm Bayeux Tapestry Scenes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry_tituli Bayeux Tapestry Scene 11 The Messengers of William https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BayeuxTapestryScene11.jpg Hosios Loukas Monastery narthex Emperor and Helena 1010/1030 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hosios_Loukas_(narthex)_-_West_wall,_left_309 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY _detail_03_(Constantine_and_Helena)_02.jpg http://dobrodrvo.orthodox.ru/PRAVOSLAVLJE/IKONE/SVETITELJI/APOSTOLI%20I%20SV%20 OCI/JPEG/KONSTANTIN%20I%20JELENA%20-%20OSIOS%20LUKAS%20B.jpg Dura Europos frescos https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:DuraEuropos_synagogue_painting https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dura_Europos_fresco_Jews_cross_Red_Sea.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DuraSyn-WA3-Exodus_from_Egypt.jpg Theodora Empress 1055-56 gold coin https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=2971&category=61260&lot=2479600 Byzantine Christian ring 6th-7th century ET VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST from Christies auctions http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-byzantine-garnet-cameo-circa-6th7th-century-4617189-details.aspx?from=salesummary&pos=91&intObjectID=4617189 Euthemius Monastery mosaic image https://israeltours.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/mosaic-floor.jpg Wildwinds Eudoxia page http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/eudoxia/t.html http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/eudoxia/RIC_0328.jpg Ulysses and the Sirens ~260-280 a.d Tunisian mosaic from the temple Dougga https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bardo_Mosaic_Ulysses.jpg Manuscript miniatures http://manuscriptminiatures.com Harthacnut 1035-42 Shielded cross coin https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=2318&lot=36 MS 499 Morgan Library & Musuem. Empress Helena and last(?) Thorakion. Dated last quarter of 14th century. http://corsair.morganlibrary.org/icaimages/4/m499.001.jpg Liber ad honorem Augusti by Pietro da Eboli, c.1197 http://warfare.gq/12/Liber_ad_honorem_Augusti_th.htm?i=1 Miscellany on the life of St. Edmund MS 736 http://ica.themorgan.org/manuscript/thumbs/143847 Manuscript miniatures http://manuscriptminiatures.com York Coins http://www.yorkcoins.com/scandinavia.htm CoinArchives.COM https://www.coinarchives.com Numisbids.com https://www.numisbids.com/ 310 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY DNW https://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/past-catalogues/ Theodore Psalter MS 19352 Feb 1066 http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=add_ms_19352_f001r Miscellany on the life of St. Edmund MS 376 http://ica.themorgan.org/manuscript/thumbs/143847 Harthacnut 1035-37 Shielded cross coin https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=1744&lot=467 Harold I 1035-40 shielded cross coin https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=2318&lot=35 Samarra, Iraq Stucco 9th century wall design “upside down kite shield? doubtful”. http://whc.unesco.org/en/documents/109704 Aelia Edocia mosaic plaque https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aelia_Eudocia_mosaic.jpg Oseburg Ship Burial and Tapestry ~834 http://www.unimus.no/foto/#/search?q=oseberg or http://www.germanicmythology.com/works/OsebergTapestry.html http://www.unimus.no/foto/imageviewer.html#/?id=12686738&type=jpeg Theodora Coins on Wildwinds.com http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/theodora/t.html Matthew Paris manuscript image of Edmond Ironside Canute the Dane - Public Domain image https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/EdmundIronside_Canutethe_D ane1.jpg Canute with so called Jeweled Cross https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d0/74/0e/d0740e38cc7860ebfb29f03c2264db75--englishcoins-world-coins.jpg Magyars Invasions http://epicworldhistory.blogspot.com/2013/07/magyar-invasions.html Greek. Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt http://atlasnumismatics.com/1043157/ Pala d’Oro high alter retable https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pala_d%27Oro Daughters of Theodora in Madrid Skylitzes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MadridSkylitzesDaughtersOfTheodoraFol44v.jpg 311 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Deiotarus Coin 62-40 b.c King of Galatia http://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=191&pid=8777#top_ display_media Constantine I, “The Great” coin 337-330 a.d https://www.ebay.com/itm/ROMANIMPERIAL-Time-of-Constantine-I-AE-Follis-307-337-A-D/292379851610 CNVT “Posthumous” Jewel cross” coin Leofric @ Southwark 1035 by the-saleroom.com and numisbids.com https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auctioncatalogues/spink/catalogue-id-srspi10011/lot-1d120944-f639-41a5-bbb7-a3f800fb35be https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=857&lot=200 Golden Psalter parchment St. Gallen 883-888 and/or 890-900 http://www.ecodices.unifr.ch/en/csg/0022/141/0/Sequence-239 Greece Manuscript Illiad 990-1000 http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4919/14626/ or http://chs119.chs.harvard.edu/venice_images/JPEG_High/VA004VN-0506.jpg Bab Al Nasr Gate image https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Cairo-Bab-al-Nasr.jpg Celtic Shield from Fayum Egypt https://myarmoury.com/images/features/pic_shield35.jpg Codex Aureus Epternacensis 983-991 Trier in Germany. Illuminated between 1030-1050. http://www.gnm.de/fileadmin/redakteure/Sammlungen/swf/codex/ Public Domain image https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Codex_aureus_Epternacensis_f olio_18_verso.jpg Another image: http://warfare2.netai.net/6C-11C/Codex_Aureus_Epternacensis-f18vregister3.htm British Library MS 603 Illumination images https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/record.asp?MSID=18402 Rare Bronze Celtic Shield 1986 discovery in Chertsey England gravel pit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWCIEkUZGHs World Digital Library of Madrid Skylitzes manuscript and illuminations https://dl.wdl.org/10625/service/10625.pdf Varangian Guardsmen under Basil II in 988. Skylitzis Chronicle Public Domain Image, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=737234 Vivan Bible 845 Cerethi via Gallica manuscript image online pg 215 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8455903b/f438.item.zoom and partial public Image obtained from History of Information by Jeremy Norman Sept 2017 312 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY http://historyofinformation.com/images/vivian_bible_pslams.jpg http://www.historyofinformation.com/expanded.php?id=2037 Nea Moni Monastery Chios,Greece – Christs death scene Mosaic w/Varangian Soldier 1049-1055 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meister_der_Nea-MoniKirche_in_Chios_005.jpg http://armourinart.com/5125/15865/ Utrecht Psalter original drawings 820-835 a.d https://iconographic.warburg.sas.ac.uk/vpc/VPC_search/subcats.php?cat_1=14&cat_ 2=53&cat_3=331&cat_4=3168&cat_5=4075 Harley Psalter Canterbury Church in England images https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/record.asp?MSID=18402 Video of Macedonia Republic Gorno Nerezi St Pantaleimon Ennio 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIsnV2ISr6w Pinterest Image of the 3 Soldiers in St Panteleimon Church https://i.pinimg.com/564x/4f/08/9a/4f089ad70a70e74e3a6e5d9b4dddb143.jpg Utrecht Psalter Image of Psalm 11 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utrecht_Psalter#/media/File:Utrecht_Psalter_%28cropped %29.jpg Saint-Sever Beatus a Liebana , Commentarius in Apocalypsin.Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des manuscrits, Latin 8878 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b52505441p/f1.item Image cover concept using the following from St Sever Beautus 1028/1072 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apocalypse_de_Saint_Sever.jpg Codex Aureus of St. Emmerram 870/879 West Frankish Muchener Bayerische StaatsBibliothek http://daten.digitalesammlungen.de/~db/0005/bsb00057171/images/index.html?seite=5 Illumination’s & Manuscript References DVL Digital Vatican Library web site https://digi.vatlib.it/mss/ Byzantine Psalter, BNF MS Grec 20 9thC https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10723175r/ Vergilius Vaticanus lat 3225 (late 4thC) https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.lat.3225 313 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Vatican MS Gr.747 Octateuch catena (11thC per Doaks1336) https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.747 Vatican Greek 666 with Alexios I Komnenos (r.1081-1118) paintings https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.666 Bible of Leo Sakellarios mid 10thC https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Reg.gr.1.pt.B Cotton MS Claudius B IV or Old English Hexateuch ca1025-1150 http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?Source=BrowseScribes&letter=A&ref=Co tton_MS_Claudius_B_IV Coislin 79 BNF Jean Chrysostome, Homélies for Nicéphore Botaniate circa 1078-81. http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8470047d/ La Charité-sur-Loire, France Harley Psalter MS 2895 http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/record.asp?MSID=8623 Navara Beatux Codex (late 12th cntry) Spain http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b105072186/ Stuttgart Psalter 820-830 1st half 9thC http://digital.wlb-stuttgart.de/purl/bsz307047059 Grégoire de Nazianze MS Grec 510 circa 879-883. Homilies dedicated to emperor Basil I Macedonia. http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84522082/ Grégoire de Nazianze MS Grec 550 circa 1101-1200 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10515482s Rabbula/Rabula MS Plut 156 Syriac Gospels 586/897 (Greek Year) http://teca.bmlonline.it/ImageViewer/servlet/ImageViewer?idr=TECA0000025956&keyw orks=Plut.01.56#page/1/mode/1up Boulogne MS 20 St. Bertin http://www.enluminures.culture.fr/documentation/enlumine/fr/BM/boulogne-surmer_048-01.htm Jean Chrysotome Homelies 1078-1081 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8470047d/f12.item Theodore Psalter MS 19352 Feb 1066 http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=add_ms_19352_f001r Vatican City, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 747 ttps://www.doaks.org/resources/mmdb/manuscripts/1644 1336 314 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Miscellany on the life of St. Edmund MS 376 http://ica.themorgan.org/manuscript/thumbs/143847 Golden Psalter parchment St. Gallen 883-888 and/or 890-900 http://www.ecodices.unifr.ch/en/csg/0022/141/0/Sequence-239 Codex Aureus Epternacensis 983-991 Trier in Germany. Illuminated between 1030-1050. http://www.gnm.de/fileadmin/redakteure/Sammlungen/swf/codex/ British Library MS 603 Illumination images https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/record.asp?MSID=18402 World Digital Library of Madrid Skylitzes manuscript and illuminations https://dl.wdl.org/10625/service/10625.pdf Vivan Bible 845 Cerethi via Gallica manuscript image online pg 215 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8455903b/f438.item.zoom and partial public Image obtained from History of Information by Jeremy Norman Sept 2017 http://www.historyofinformation.com/expanded.php?id=2037 Utrecht Psalter original drawings 820-835 a.d https://iconographic.warburg.sas.ac.uk/vpc/VPC_search/subcats.php?cat_1=14&cat_ 2=53&cat_3=331&cat_4=3168&cat_5=4075 Harley Psalter Canterbury Church in England images https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/record.asp?MSID=18402 Saint-Sever Beatus a Liebana , Commentarius in Apocalypsin.Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des manuscrits, Latin 8878 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b52505441p/f1.item Codex Aureus of St. Emmerram 870/879 West Frankish Muchener Bayerische StaatsBibliothek http://daten.digitalesammlungen.de/~db/0005/bsb00057171/images/index.html?seite=5 Goldener Psalter from St. Gallen Switzerland ,page 141 description references http://www.e-codices.unifr.ch/en/description/csg/0022/ Oxford University MS Junius 11 “The Caedmon Manuscript” http://image.ox.ac.uk/list?collection=bodleian or http://image.ox.ac.uk/show?collection=bodleian&manuscript=msjunius11 Menologian of Basil II manuscript. Library of Congress http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2015156479.html Harley Psalter MS 603 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley_Psalter 315 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif J.S. FRIDAY Harley Psalter British Library c1020 Christ Church Canterbury http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Harley_MS_603 Liber Vitae c1031-1771 Stowe MS 944 http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Stowe_MS_944 Codex Aureus Epternacensis 983-991 Trier in Germany pg 40 & 157 – Illuminated Gospel. http://www.gnm.de/fileadmin/redakteure/Sammlungen/swf/codex/ Theodore Psalter Feb 1066 https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-theodore-psalter History of Byzantium Skylitza manuscripts https://www.wdl.org/en/item/10625/ Barberini Psalter ca1081/1092 gr.372 https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Barb.gr.372 Index Bible characters David, 193, 278 Elijah, 126, 184 Elisha, 184 Goliath, 70, 71, 193, 252 Jesus Christ, 24, 69, 83, 263 Mother of God (Virgin Mary), 226, 253, 257, 291 Saul, 75, 76, 252 Solomon, 79, 143, 203, 257, 266, 278 Virgin, 146 Virgin Mary, 50, 76, 97, 145, 175, 211, 217, 226, 257, 291, 292 Virgin Mary or Mother of God, 72, 76, 94, 211, 226, 255, 257, 291, 292 Byzantine Emperors Alexios I Komnenos, 147, 235, 314 Basil I, 70, 126, 207, 252, 256, 259, 314 Basil II, 211, 227, 259, 260, 261, 264, 265, 285, 304, 312, 315 Heraclius, 20, 70, 136 John I Tzimiskes, 258 Justinian I, 136, 201, 285 Leo IV, 272 Leo VI, 70, 126, 136, 219, 225, 226, 249, 250, 252, 253, 254, 255, 257, 288, 290, 303 Nicéphore II Phokas, 258 Nicephoros Botaniates, 183 Byzantine Empresses Eudocia Baeana, 253 Irene Sarantapechaina, 272 Zoe Porphyrogenita, 257 Church/Basilica Chapel of Theotokos, Wadi ‘Ayn alKanish. Mt. Nebo, 156 Hagia Sophia in Instanbul, Turkey, 253 Holy Martyrs St Lot & St Procopius, Mukhayyat, Mt. Nebo, 136, 155, 156 Hosios Loukas in Stiris, Grece, 105, 249, 262, 304, 309 San Apollinare in Ravenna,Italy, 135, 136 San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, 138, 141, 205 St. Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna, Italy, 101, 136 St. Marks, Venice, Italy, 143, 146, 178, 207, 226, 272, 305 Culture Afghanistan, 12, 86, 166, 198, 208 Afghans (Afghanistan), 12, 160 Alani (Alans), 92 Alans (Alanic), 85 Anglo-Saxon, 30, 42, 47, 52, 120, 121, 122, 123, 210, 213, 245, 248 Arabic Spain, 110 Armenian, 70, 126, 194, 195, 253 316 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif Assyrian, 199, 290 Avars, 122, 194 Avars (Avaric), 57 Bactrian, 86, 166, 237 Bulgaria, 249, 257, 258, 265, 304 Bulgaria (Bulgarians), 201, 249 Byzantine, 6, 7, 20, 69, 70, 72, 74, 76, 97, 105, 123, 126, 135, 144, 153, 155, 176, 194, 200, 201, 203, 205, 207, 208, 209, 212, 225, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 255, 258, 260, 264, 265, 266, 267, 272, 273, 275, 276, 277, 279, 282, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 309, 310, 313 Celtic, 185, 243, 292, 312 Central Asia, 223 Chinese, 6, 189, 237 Cretan, 14 Crimean, 92, 242 Cypriot, 44, 148, 227, 236, 239 Danish, 65, 211 Denmark (Danish), 92, 143, 212, 306, 309 Doloncians, 186 Egyptian, 13, 16, 112, 116, 117, 160, 201, 234, 290 Ethiopian, 186 Etruscan, 111, 113, 163, 186, 189, 242, 243, 244 Frankish, 106, 107, 208, 213, 218, 279, 313, 315 Frankish (Franks), 26, 28, 55, 57, 73, 79, 123, 124, 208, 213 Franks, 32, 61, 274, 287 German, 203, 240 Greco-Jewish, 43 Hunnic (Huns), 28, 55 Huns (Hunnish), 120 Indian (India), 74 Indonesia (Java), 246 Iran, 18, 223 Iran (Iranian), 103 Iranian, 103, 156, 213 Iraqi, 156, 303, 311 Irish, 122, 240 Israel (Israeli), 10, 19, 51, 67, 70, 71, 81, 82, 135, 230, 235, 247, 278 Italian, 123, 276, 280 J.S. FRIDAY Jewish, 48, 81, 83, 84, 136, 247, 253, 257 Jordan (Jordanian), 153, 155, 156, 158, 167, 171, 172, 174, 175, 230 Lombardic, 121, 287 Merovingian, 2, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 48, 52, 60, 61, 62, 68, 79, 121, 122, 238 Merovingian (Dynasty) Franks, 57, 61, 79 Normans, 6, 200, 251, 278, 279, 280, 304, 305, 307, 308, 312, 315 Norway (Norwegian), 303, 305 Persians. See Sasanians Ptolemaic, 14, 45, 84, 311 Roman, 20, 60, 74, 82, 84, 112, 115, 116, 192, 194, 199, 200, 219, 236, 239, 240, 265, 266, 274, 280, 286, 288, 290, 292, 302 Russia, 205, 306 Sasanian, 103, 213, 308 Saxon, 42, 60, 63, 65, 108, 118, 121, 239, 240, 248, 265, 288, 304, 308 Scotland (Scottish), 59 Scots, 276 Scottish, 58, 59, 92, 147 Scythians, 185, 187, 243 Spain, 12, 40, 70, 108, 110, 265, 267, 284, 304, 305, 314 Spanish, 73, 200 Sumerian, 236 Sumerian (Iraq), 12 Swiss, 181, 219, 315 Syria (Syrian), 76, 136, 253 Ukraine (Ukranian), 229 Vandals, 113, 192 Wales (Welsh), 38, 303 Yugoslavia (South Slavic), 154 Davidic, 70, 126, 136, 285 Eye Ayin, 204 Hens Eye Column, 201 Nazar, 201 OMONOIA, 203 Fleur-de-lis, 10, 74, 103, 235 Greek cross Chi-Rho, 64, 73, 106, 107, 124 Tau, 61, 64, 65, 117, 131, 210, 290, 291 Tau-Rho, 69 317 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif Greek gods Abraxas, 28 Aphrodite, 257 Dionysos, 15, 20 Eros, 15, 141, 257 Hera, 15, 47 Hermes, 15 Nike, 14 Zeus/Jupiter Ammon, 16 Heart Lev, 14 Heart Shaped Showbread, 82, 83, 290 IH. See Inverted Heart Jewish synagogues Magdala, 48, 81, 82, 83, 84 Migdal, 81, 82 Lamed, 14, 78 lis. See Fleur-de-lis MFA. See Museum of Fine Arts Boston Monogram Style typographic ligature, 56, 117, 131, 138 Monograms Aw, 51 Aω (Alphaomega), 55, 60, 69, 137, 167, 253, 281, 283, 284 IAM, 2, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 38, 52 IAω (Yaw\YHWH\Yahweh), 69, 81 IC XC, 25 IH, 25 IX, 24 IΛ/IA or ΛI/AI, 29 PYX, 69 SIONAw, 55 XP, 24 ΙΧΘΥΣ, 26, 85, 222 ΙΧΘΥΣ (fish), 69 Motif Abbreviation AAST. See Alpha Arrow Spear Tip Aw. See Alpha 'w' omega/ Inverted Heart IH. See Inverted Heart or Aw RS. See Reversed 'S' SH. See Scrolled Heart Motifs 8-pointed star, 41, 79, 80, 124, 170, 175, 199, 239 J.S. FRIDAY Aegean\Theodotus style font/character, 23, 116, 138 Alpha Arrow pointer, 10 Alpha Arrow Spear Tip, 148 Aw = Alpha 'w'omega, A over w, 10, 11, 38, 60, 63, 106, 135, 143, 144, 145, 148, 200, 248, 283 club, 97, 156, 261 Diamond 'shaped', 41, 49, 52, 74, 93, 97, 109, 112, 123, 146, 155, 190, 210, 229, 230, 231, 235, 238, 239, 267, 303 divided heart, 249, 257 Double Alpha-Arrow. See Double IH Double Inverted Heart, 156 Double S, 246 exclamation mark, 261 Eye/Nazar/Evil eye, 201, 203, 204, 254, 257, 287 fleur-de-lis, 11, 60, 66, 71, 74, 95, 109, 153, 169, 171, 172, 177, 178, 194, 197, 235, 240, 242, 261, 283 Heart cross, 218, 225 Heart leaf/leaves, 19, 20 IAM/IΛM, 32, 33, 34, 106 Ichthys (fish / wheel), 21, 24, 26, 51, 263 inverted heart, 6, 38, 136, 137, 138, 140, 160, 167, 197, 253, 257, 260, 281, 282, 289 Ivy leaf/leaves. See Heart leaf/leaves Lambda cross, 41 lis. See Fleur-de-lis Lozenge (Diamond shaped), 71, 74, 90, 95, 98, 109, 114, 126, 194, 195, 206, 227, 232, 246, 261 monogram, 20, 66, 69, 70, 117, 132, 138 Peacocks, 117, 167, 180, 202, 203 pheon, 34, 37, 142, 148 Pheon, 107 reversed ‘S’, 241 Reversed ‘Ƨ’, 236 scrolled heart, 97, 112, 116, 121, 123, 161, 231, 244 spade, 147, 154, 160, 161, 167, 171, 176, 178, 287 318 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols Iota Alpha Omega Motif Spade, 41, 125, 130, 135, 147, 160, 161, 162, 167, 168, 169, 172, 173, 177, 178, 179, 180, 242, 246, 248, 302, 303 Tears/Marks, 205, 208, 210 Theodotus style font/character, 23, 138 trefoil. See Club Trefoil, 197, 198, 246 X’s & O’s, 227 'ω' omega cross, 2, 38, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 69, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 108, 116, 137, 141, 167, 240, 282, 283, 284 ωμέγα / ‘ω’ column, 74 Mt Zion. See Zion Museums Art Institute of Chicago, 174 Ashmolean, 306 British Museum, 10, 63, 167, 240, 248, 279, 284, 306 Brooklyn Museum, 4, 48, 49, 52, 89, 139, 169, 218, 238, 307 Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), 4, 10, 75, 88, 132, 171, 214, 223, 306 Dumbarton Oaks (DOAKS), 251, 264, 277, 307 Istanbul Archeological Museum, 256 Metropolitan Museum of Art, 226, 241, 308 Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMoA), 4, 13, 27, 55, 57, 70, 73, 76, 79, 90, 95, 106, 110, 118, 121, 122, 124, 125, 142, 146, 149, 161, 163, 191, 208, 213, 225, 228, 231, 243, 244, 245, 248, 306 MMoA. See Metropolitan Museum of Art Museum of Fine Arts Boston, 11, 116, 131, 283 Palazzo Massimo - National Roman Museum, 219 The Walters Art Museum, 4, 11, 15, 18, 19, 53, 120, 169, 217, 229, 232, 306, 309 Vatican City, 97 Victoria & Albert, 96 Norse gods J.S. FRIDAY Oden/Odin/Woden, 203 peacock, 123, 202, 255 Peacock, 167, 202 Pelta, 112, 114, 115, 289, 290, See Scrolled Heart peltae. See Pelta Persian Sassanian, 103 Roman gods Abraxas, 28 Cupid, 108, 257 Venus, 108, 257 Saints Apollinaire, 136, 137, 282 Boris (Rus), 258, 264 Demetrius, 195, 204, 254, 303 George, 155, 279 Gleb (Rus), 258, 264 Michael, 204 Paul, 74 Peter, 267 St. Demetrios, 126, 141, 205 Ursicinus, 101 Valerian, 113 Shield symbols Argean Star, 199 Macedonian Star, 199, 200 Vergina Sun, 199 Solomon, 70, 126, 127, 136, 146, 178, 200, 201, 207, 249, 252, 253, 256, 285 Solomonic, 70, 136, 285 Talisman seal of Solomon, 201 Tapestries Achmim, 201, 284 Bayeux, 65, 200, 268, 289, 305, 307, 309 Thorakion, 6, 11, 105, 127, 249, 251, 254, 255, 260, 263, 268, 273, 275, 276, 277, 288, 291, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308 Zion, 268, 277, 278, 292 Αλφα Alpha, 2, 43, 51, 55, 60, 130, 137 ωμέγα Omega, 2, 55, 60, 67, 72, 74, 76, 126, 130, 137, 192, 227, 284 319 : Research into the Origin of the Inverted Heart motif & other sacred symbols