Pilgrim's Flask with Saint Menas
Unknown Artist
400–600
Medium
terracotta
Dimensions
8.7 × 6.5 cm
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Bruce Ferrini in memory of Robert P. Bergman
Accession Number
1999.232
About this artwork
These flasks bear the image of Saint Menas, an early martyr of the Christian Church whose shrine was in the desert southwest of Alexandria in Egypt. These flasks were probably used by pilgrims to hold oil taken from the lamp that burned over this saint's tomb. Probably manufactured near the shrine, pilgrim's flasks often bear decorations hinting at their place of origin, as is the case here.