Cross of the Angels
Encyclopedia
The Cross of the Angels is a pre-romanesque Asturian
reliquary donated by Alfonso II of Asturias
in the year 808 to the Church of San Salvador in Oviedo
, Asturias
. The Cross of the Angels is the symbol of the city of Oviedo
The cross is the first example of jewelry made in the Kingdom of Asturias
that has reached our days. His current appearance is the result of careful reconstruction carried out after the damages the cross underwent in August 1977 after the robery of the Camara Santa .
Its squared dimensions (46.5 centimetres (18.3 in), 45.7 centimetres (18 in) wide and 2.5 centimetre (0.984251968503937 in) thick) are typical from Greek crosses. The cross is formed by two pieces of cedar wood with, at the center, a round disc.
, comparable to votive crosses and crowns
of the Visigothic treasure of Guarrazar
.
around the 15th century, although it is said that even earlier, in 1262, it was used as a seal of the city. This is reflected in an engraving in the old city walls where the cross, with the Greek letters alpha
and omega
hanging of his arms, is used as a sign of consecration. Nowadays, the cross is present in the coat of arms
of both the city of Oviedo and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oviedo.
Asturian art
Pre-Romanesque architecture in Asturias is framed between the years 711 and 910, the period of the rise, extension and disappearance of the kingdom of Asturias.-Historical introduction:...
reliquary donated by Alfonso II of Asturias
Alfonso II of Asturias
Alfonso II , called the Chaste, was the king of Asturias from 791 to his death, the son of Fruela I and the Basque Munia.He was born in Oviedo in 759 or 760. He was put under the guardianship of his aunt Adosinda after his father's death, but one tradition relates his being put in the monastery of...
in the year 808 to the Church of San Salvador in Oviedo
Oviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
, Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
. The Cross of the Angels is the symbol of the city of Oviedo
The cross is the first example of jewelry made in the Kingdom of Asturias
Kingdom of Asturias
The Kingdom of Asturias was a Kingdom in the Iberian peninsula founded in 718 by Visigothic nobles under the leadership of Pelagius of Asturias. It was the first Christian political entity established following the collapse of the Visigothic kingdom after Islamic conquest of Hispania...
that has reached our days. His current appearance is the result of careful reconstruction carried out after the damages the cross underwent in August 1977 after the robery of the Camara Santa .
Its squared dimensions (46.5 centimetres (18.3 in), 45.7 centimetres (18 in) wide and 2.5 centimetre (0.984251968503937 in) thick) are typical from Greek crosses. The cross is formed by two pieces of cedar wood with, at the center, a round disc.
History
The donation is usually interpreted as a sign of gratitude of the monarch after being restored to the throne, after the years of his incarceration in the monastery of Abelania.Reliquary
The lateral arms have kept the rings from which hang chains with pearls and precious stones, also known as pendiliaPendilia
Pendilia are pendant or dangling ornaments for a piece of metalwork such as a crown, votive crown, crux gemmata, or kamelaukion, and are a feature of Early Medieval goldsmith work...
, comparable to votive crosses and crowns
Votive crown
A votive crown is a votive offering in the form of a crown, normally in precious metals and often adorned with jewels. Especially in the Early Middle Ages, they are of a special form, designed to be suspended by chains at an altar, shrine or image...
of the Visigothic treasure of Guarrazar
Treasure of Guarrazar
The Treasure of Guarrazar is an archeological find composed of twenty-six votive crowns and gold crosses that had originally been offered to the Roman Catholic Church by the Kings of the Visigoths in the seventh century in Hispania, as a gesture of the orthodoxy of their faith and their submission...
.
Symbol of the City of Oviedo
The Cross of the Angels became the symbol of the city of OviedoOviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
around the 15th century, although it is said that even earlier, in 1262, it was used as a seal of the city. This is reflected in an engraving in the old city walls where the cross, with the Greek letters alpha
Alpha
Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Alpha or ALPHA may also refer to:-Science:*Alpha , the highest ranking individuals in a community of social animals...
and omega
Omega
Omega is the 24th and last letter of the Greek alphabet. In the Greek numeric system, it has a value of 800. The word literally means "great O" , as opposed to omicron, which means "little O"...
hanging of his arms, is used as a sign of consecration. Nowadays, the cross is present in the coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of both the city of Oviedo and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oviedo.