Pilgrim's Medallion with Saint Symeon the Younger
Unknown Artist
c. 1100
Medium
lead
Dimensions
{"diameter":{"width":0.057,"depth":0.004}}
Classification
Metalwork
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Norman O. Stone and Ella A. Stone Memorial Fund
Accession Number
1972.52
About this artwork
Saint Symeon the Younger was a stylite saint, an early Christian ascetic who fled the world for the desert and, perched on a column, spent his days fasting and praying. The site of Symeon’s column attracted many pilgrims during and after his lifetime. Medallions like this one, showing Symeon atop his column, were taken home by pilgrims in commemoration of their visit and were believed to serve their owners as protective talismans.