A team working in northwestern Russia has brought to light a pendant that joins together two very different beliefs. On one side of the double-sided item, a saint is shown slaying a snake, while the other bears a woman whose hair takes the shape of a serpent. This piece dates back to the 11th century, and it stands as the oldest amulet of its kind discovered in that part of the world.
A copper alloy pendant dug up at Staraya Russa, a historic town located between Moscow and St. Petersburg, has been identified as pushing back evidence for a Christian community living there. Researchers announced the find after a summer excavation revealed the object.
The Saint and the Serpent
On one side of the pendant sits a warrior-saint bearing a spear and shield, and Sergey Toropov, director of the Novgorod State University Center for Archaeological Research, has tied it to St. Theodore Stratelates. He was also known as Theodore of Heraclea, and church sources relate how he slew a giant serpent that plagued his hometown in Asia Minor.
The other side shows a woman’s head whose hair resembles snakes, a likeness that brings to mind a Medusa-like figure. Researchers note, however, that it is not clear whether it is a direct depiction of the gorgon Medusa from Greek mythology.
What the Pendant Means
Toropov described the pendant’s design in blunt terms. “The main characteristic of the serpentine pendant is its combination of images that are incompatible, from a strictly dogmatic standpoint,” he said. One side always features a Christian image, such as Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or a saint, while the other side prominently features snakes.
He offered a reading of the meaning. “The ‘incompatible’ images in this case could symbolize the victory of the forces of light over the forces of darkness,” Toropov said.
This piece of jewelry carries two names in Russian: “snake amulet” or “serpentine pendant.”. Four other examples of its kind come from Christian sites in the region, though they trace back to the 12th through 14th centuries. The artifact itself surfaced in layers dated to the 11th century, which points to an early Christian presence at Staraya Russa.
How It Got There
The practice of wearing snake-shaped necklaces probably entered Russia from the Byzantine Empire. Since the item is constructed from copper rather than the costlier silver or gold, it probably belonged to someone from the middle class residing on the medieval estate at Staraya Russa, according to Toropov.
A thousand years ago, medieval Russia’s religious world was not simple. Christianity had firmly established itself in the region, yet some people clung to their pagan traditions and symbols.
Related Finds Nearby
New finds from the region reveal just how wide the range of the archaeological record truly is.
- A nobleman buried with his horse and dog in a rare wooden tomb in Russia
- A complete skin of an adult horse found with a 10th-century woman and newborn in a Siberian burial
- More than 2,600 silver coins found outside Moscow, possibly buried by a medieval plague victim
Alongside the pendant, these discoveries provide a look at life across the region.
The Scholar Behind the Story
Live Science published a piece on the pendant by Kristina Killgrove, who reports on archaeology and paleoanthropology. Her work has also been featured in Forbes, Smithsonian, and Mental Floss. She earned a Ph.D. in biological anthropology and an M.A. in classical archaeology from the University of North Carolina, along with a B.A. in Latin from the University of Virginia.
What We Make of It
A single piece of metal holds two images that do not belong together: a Christian saint and a pagan figure, turned toward opposite sides of the same object.
The pendant brings two worlds together: the old gods and the new faith, sometimes uneasy with each other, sometimes at peace. Light and darkness do not exist apart from one another on this small piece — they sit side by side, pressed together into one whole.
The discovery changes what scholars know about the timing of Christian settlement in the region. The 11th-century date means the community was present earlier than previously believed. The pendant itself is a tangible link between the faith of the day and the people who wore it.
This piece of jewelry stands apart from the rest, and it should be remembered for what it is.
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