Crucifix of Ferdinand and Sancha facts for kids
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The crucifix of Ferdinand and Sancha is a beautiful carving made from ivory around the year 1063. Today, you can see it at the National Archaeological Museum of Spain in Madrid. This special crucifix was a gift from King Ferdinand I of León and Queen Sancha to decorate the basilica of San Isidoro in León, Spain.
It is the first known crucifix from Spain that actually shows the body of Christ. Before this one, other crucifixes from Spain were known, but they were just crosses without any figures on them. The official list of the royal gifts described this crucifix as "a cross of ivory with the image of our crucified Redeemer." It is about 52 centimeters (20.5 inches) tall, 34.5 centimeters (13.6 inches) wide, and 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) thick. The part showing Christ is 30.5 centimeters (12 inches) tall.
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What the Crucifix Looks Like
The figure of Christ on the cross has its head leaning to the left. Its large eyes are wide open and have jet stones in them, which was a common style for ivory sculptures in that area at the time. Christ also has a beard and a mustache. Each foot is nailed separately to the cross. Some of the fingers on Christ's right hand are missing. He wears a loincloth, called a perizonium, which covers him down to his knees and is tied at his waist. His legs and body are shown perfectly straight up and down. There is a small space behind the body, which means the crucifix could have been used as a reliquary. A reliquary is a container for holy objects or relics.
The Front of the Cross (Obverse)
On the front side of the cross, you can see designs of plants and animals all twisted together. There are also figures of people, some going up to paradise and others going down to hell. Above the image of Christ, there is an inscription that says:
RENUSREX
IUDEORU
This means "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews". This was the message placed on the cross, according to the Four Gospels in the Bible. Above this inscription, there is a carving of the resurrected Christ holding a cross. At the very bottom of the cross, below the crucified figure, there is a figure of Adam. Below Adam, another inscription reads:
SANCIAREGINA
This tells us who ordered this amazing artwork: King Ferdinand and Queen Sancha.
The Back of the Cross (Reverse)
The back side of the cross has more plant designs. In the very center, you can see the Agnus Dei, which means "Lamb of God." At the four ends of the cross's arms, there are symbols representing the Four Evangelists. These are the writers of the Gospels in the Bible.
See also
