Pilgrim flask (back)

Add to album

Pilgrim flasks were used by pilgrims to hold small amounts of secondary relics such as hallowed oil, earth, dust or water. This earthenware example dates from the 5th to the 7th century AD and is decorated with Menas, an Egyptian soldier-saint whose shrine was at Abu Mena, south-west of Alexandria. This picture shows the back of the flask.

The back is decorated with a Maltese cross, surrounded by a wreath. The flask originally had two handles for suspension around the neck or body. One of the handles is missing.

Flasks such as these may have contained water from the many cisterns at St Menas's shrine. They may also have held hallowed oil from a lamp suspended above the saint's tomb.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-180-001-945-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  
• Date: Between the 5th and 7th century AD
  
• Material:
• Dimensions:
• What:
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where:
• Event:
• Description:
• References:
  • Evans, G. Souvenirs From Roman Times to the Present Day. Edinburgh: NMS Publishing Ltd, 1999, pp 1-2. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: