Photo: Antakya Archaeological Museum

A silver plaque of St. Peter carrying a cross, from Antioch or nearby Kaper Koraon, c.550-600 AD. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Fletcher Fund, 1950, 50.5.2.St. Paul and St. Peter were highly honored in Antioch, where they both preached. St. Paul and St. Peter share the same feast day, June 29, and this image is part of a pair with a plaque of the other apostle (see previous photo). The man on this plaque is recognizable as Peter by his round face and short hair and beard. He appears with his right hand raised as if preaching. The cross he carries in his left hand is like those used in church processions and may symbolize him preaching in a church. At his waist is a set of keys, representing the keys to the kingdom of heaven give by Christ (Matthew 16:19). As the borders are bent back, the two plaques may have formed the cover of a highly honored text used in a church, perhaps the letters of St. Paul. Alternatively, they could have been votive plaques that flanked an image of Christ, which is suggested by the observation that the two apostles are turned towards each other. Source: Antioch: The Lost Ancient City, 213.

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