Intaglio with Saint Theodore Teron Slaying a Many-Headed Dragon
Unknown Artist
1300 or later
Medium
Agate
Dimensions
Overall: 1 5/16 x 1 x 1/4in. (3.4 x 2.6 x 0.6cm)
Classification
Lapidary Work-Gems
Culture
Byzantine
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Nanette B. Kelekian, in memory of Charles Dikran and Beatrice Kelekian, 1999
Accession Number
1999.325.227
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite intaglio, carved from agate, depicts Saint Teron, a revered Byzantine soldier-saint, triumphantly slaying a many-headed dragon. Measuring just 1 5/16 x 1 x 1/4 inches, this tiny gem from 1300 or later showcases the precision of Byzantine lapidary work, where artisans incised designs into hard stone to create intimate, portable objects. Intaglios like this were often used as seals, amulets, or jewelry, blending piety with practicality in medieval life. Saint Theodore Teron, known for his martyrdom under Emperor Diocletian and legendary dragon battles symbolizing victory over evi...