The so-called ‘Stuma Paten’ (named after the name of the village, near Aleppo, where it was found in 1908).
Early-Byzantine representation of the ‘Holy Eucharist’: Christ offers to his disciples his Body to eat (in the form of bread) and his Blood to drink (in the form of wine). Also named: the Divine Liturgy.
The silver plate (dated 577/578, according to several marks on its back) was gilt; on the edge there is a niello inscription in Greek, mentioning the silversmith Sergios, his wife Maria and their parents, to whom’s salvation the paten was dedicated.
(Niello is a black mixture of copper, silver, and lead sulfides, used as an inlay on engraved or etched metal).
Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: ‘Zilveren en gouden vaatwerk uit de Griekse en Romeinse Oudheid’ – L. Byvanck (1973)
& Website of ‘egolpion.com’ .