Birka Cross (Sterling Silver) (Amethyst)

Solid Silver set with Amethyst Dimensions: 1 7/16″ wide by 1 5/8″ high Gallery Byzantium’s Birka Cross is based on a 9th century Scandinavian design of a grave find from Birka, Sweden. The original artifact is now a part of the Swedish History Museum’s collections. Birka was founded in 831 by Saint Anskar and became Sweden’s first known Christian settlement. An important trading center in the medieval route of 8th and 9th century, Birka also served as the central Baltic link connecting Sandinavia, Kievan Rus’, and the Byzantine Empire.The influences of these contacts and trades can be seen in the Byzantine motifs of this piece. Click here to learn more about this design and its history in our blog!