Book Cover

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Recommended: Late antiquity art and byzantine

Historically, the covers of religious texts have been lavishly decorated. This was especially the case in the Byzantine Empire. Christian texts of this time were decorated in with the intent of provoking a sense of awe among worshippers, as well as glorifying the word of God within the scripture.(142 picturing the bible)The Book Cover with a Cross Flanked by Cypress Trees, part of the Sion Treasure, is an exquisite example of the decorative covers created for Christian texts in the Early Byzantine Empire. (CITATION). The book cover is part of a pair, and is currently on display with its identical partner. (page 72 of frazer). Since it's discovery in 1963, there has been some questions regarding the panel, and if it was in fact created as a book-cover at all. However, evidence suggests that the panel and its mate were not only intended for use as book covers, but as covers for a Book of the Gospels that would have been considered particularly important.
Byzantine tradition included using rich materials on their book covers, and this cover is no different. Made of silver with gilded gold sections, the book has a lavish appearance. The silver surface would have been hammered out by the artist(Exxlesiastical newman and lie 78), and then the design was created using repoussé and chasing techniques ((lowden pg 24)), creating a three dimensional surface, similar to a low relief carving. While other book covers would have been attached with nails, the artist created this piece large enough so that its edges could be folded over the wooden board of a manuscript's cover in order to attach it- thus leaving the imagery of the silver panel uninterrupted by nails. ((frazer pg 72))
The panel is steeped in symbolism. The imagery on the book cov...

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...comparison to the other book covers discovered with the Sion treasure, it has very little damage, and the gilding is very well preserved, indicating that the book had probably been handled rarely.((lowden 29)) The large size and greater weight of the panels support this, as does the special treatment of attaching the panel to the board of the cover without the use of nails. The book that would have been contained behind this cover was most likely not a book that would be used in everyday liturgical hours, but reserved for use during special masses. Thus, this book would have been one of importance, viewed with greater reverence than an ordinary biblical text.
While there have been debates regarding the function of the panels of the Sion treasure, evidence points to their role as book-covers as highly likely. (more sentences, maybe bring in the role of the church?)

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