Lothair Crystal [855-869] - Story of Susanna & the elders

Intaglio; rock crystal; disc; engraved

Materials

Carolingian rock crystal [855-869]

Metal frame, gold & copper [15th C]

Carolingian Empire

London BM AN 1855,1201.5

 

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with eight episodes from the Story of Susanna.

 

We read the story clockwise:

Top: temptation of Susanna, who stands with the Elders in an enclosed garden with a gate; she holds two vessels in her left hand; on right two servants in short tunics run to the aid of their mistress from a building with gabled roof.

 

Below, on right: Elders in house of Joachim, ordering the servants to bring Susanna before them.

 

Below: group with the Elders in their midst extending their hands over Susanna's head, while the remaining figures express amazement.

 

Bottom, right: official with staff leads off Susanna, but is confronted by Daniel;

to right and left two figures raise arms in astonishment;

to left: Daniel rebukes one of the Elders, while behind two figures express their indignation and approval of his words.

 

Above, left: Daniel convicts the second Elder of falsehood, while onlookers give vent to indignation;

 

over this scene is the stoning of the Elders.

 

Central medallion: liberated Susanna stands with hands extended before Daniel, who is on seat of judgement, two men stand to left, canopy covers all figures;

 

in later copper-gilt mount with foliate borders; perhaps later used as a morse. On the engraved side the crystal is slightly convex; but on the smooth side the central area, about 50mm across, is flat, while the edges are bevelled.

 

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Latin inscriptions, their transliteration and translation

 

SURREXER SENES - surrexerunt senses

The old men have stood up

 

SCA SVSANA - Sancta Susanna

Holy Susanna

 

MITTITE AD SVSANAM - mittite ad Susannam

Send for Susanne

 

MISER MANVS - miserunt manus

(the Elders) extending their hands

 

CVQ DVCERET AD MORTE - cumque duceretur ad mortem

and she was led to death

 

INVETERATE DIER MALOR - inveterate dierum malorum

You have grown old amid wicked days

 

RECTE MENTITVS ES - recte mentitus es

Very well! This lie has cost (you your head)

 

FECER Q EIS SICVT MALE EGERANT - feceruntque eis sicut male egerant

they did to them as they had wickedly planned (to do to their neighbor)

 

ET SALVATVS E SANG.INNOXIVS IN D A - et salvatus est sanguis innoxius in die illa

Thus innocent blood was spared that day

 

LOTHARIVS REX FRANCORVM FIERI IVSSIT -

 

Lotharius Rex Francorum fieri iussit

Lothar, King of the Franks, caused me to be made.]

 

Done