Medieval Art & Manuscripts
Ivory Box with Scenes of Adam and Eve
Ivory & Enamel
Details
- Author / creator
- Byzantium, Constantinople, Byzantine period
- Object type
- Decorative arts
- Date or period
- 1000–1100s
- Dimensions summary
- Overall: 14.3 × 46.7 × 20.3 cm
- Place of origin
- Byzantium
- Acquisition method
- Purchase
- Credit line
- Purchased with the National Heritage Memorial Fund, 1924
- Text
- Unidentified text
- Script
- Gothic textualis
- Language
- Latin
- Image rights
- Public domain (CC0)
About this object
Scenes from the Old Testament stories of Adam and Eve and their children, Cain and Abel, decorate this box, which may have been made to contain jewelry or small valuables. On its lid two plaques depict the creation of Adam and the creation of Eve from Adam’s rib. Two further plaques depict Cain slaying Abel: Cain throws a stone in the direction of Abel, who is hit by stones in the hip, chest, and head.
Materials and technique
Ivory, wood
Signature and marks
Greek inscriptions are included in each plaque.
