Echoes of Golgotha : on the iconization of monumental crosses in medieval Svanet'i

Abstract

The area of Svanet'i stands out for its many medieval churches, which have often preserved their ancient pieces of furnishing in their original setting. This is especially the case with monumental crosses, exhibited on a stone pedestal in the middle of the nave. The present article outlines the early history of such objects and examines them as liturgical objects echoing cultic practices associated with Jerusalem and once largely widespread also in other Christian contexts, including Byzantium and the medieval West. Finally, it discusses their gradual transformation into supports for images and the emergence of "iconized" variants, made in the medium of painting.