CONSTANTINE THE GREAT AS A HOLY RIDER – WARRIOR

Text topic: Studies

Text author: Виолета Цветковска Оцокољић, Жељко Ђурић и Татјана Цветовски

In the early Christianity there were many amulets, known as a group of Gnostic amulets, depicting a holy rider-warrior holding a cross-tipped spear piercing the enemy. This motif was usually attributed to Solomon who killed a female demon, but was later associated with Christ, St. George, St. Theodore and other saints. There is also the amulet that shows Emperor Constantine the Great in his victory at Milvian Bridge (Parisinus gr. 510, fol. 440). It can be assumed that the image of Constantine as a holy warrior of the imperial cavalry, before the period of iconoclasm, was even more widespread. However, some variations can be observed in the usual iconography. Also, although Constantine’s role in the spread of Christianity and the celebration of the Holy Cross is huge, this symbol is much older and related to the influence of other, older religions and beliefs.