Ivory Pyxis Depicting Saint Menas

Illustration

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
by
published on 25 September 2016
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Ivory Pyxis Depicting Saint Menas Download Full Size Image

This ivory pyxis (round box) shows the saint Menas with camels. His shrine near Alexandria in Egypt was a popular pilgrim site in the Byzantine Empire. Menas, an Egyptian soldier, was executed by Emperor Diocletian (reigned 284-305 CE) for practising Christianity. When the camels carrying his body to burial refused to move beyond a certain spot, it was taken as a sign that he should be buried there. Byzantine, 6th century CE. Made in Alexandria, Egypt. Found in Italy, Rome, San Paolo Fuori le Mura. (The British Museum, London).

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2016, September 25). Ivory Pyxis Depicting Saint Menas. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5726/ivory-pyxis-depicting-saint-menas/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Ivory Pyxis Depicting Saint Menas." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified September 25, 2016. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5726/ivory-pyxis-depicting-saint-menas/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Ivory Pyxis Depicting Saint Menas." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 25 Sep 2016. Web. 21 Feb 2025.

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