An Eighth Century Ciborium

Early ciboria are not always easily found but today we have one to share with our readers that has been dated to circa A.D. 700-750. We have mentioned here before in our series on the history of the forms of the Christian altar that in their earliest incarnations, altars were much smaller and more cube shaped. This might seem impractical but at this point of liturgical history nothing was placed upon them except what was required -- namely the bread and the wine to be consecrated. Altar lights came in the form of hanging lampada (sometimes hung from the ciborium itself) and coronae, or as standards set near the altar and sanctuary as opposed to being placed on the altar itself as we are now accustomed to.

The display shown here above intends to approximate an early form of altar placed within the context of the ciborium to help people to better understand the relationship and proportions. Of course, a picture is worth a thousand words, so to this we'd add this medieval illumination that shows priest at an early, cube shaped altar covered with its ciborium. To round out this historical picture, it must be mentioned that early ciboria also frequently had curtains in order to veil the sacred mysteries during the holiest part of the liturgy: the Eucharistic Canon. An example of such a usage can be seen here in this drawing (see right) based upon one of the early mosaics found in the church of St. George in Thessaloniki. 

One cannot of course understand the ciborium except in relation to the altar, and understanding the early shape of the altar is certainly key in understanding the shape and dimensions of this particular ciborium for it no doubt seems proportionately small to our modern eyes.

Four columns support the ciborium and text can be found on one of them which contains a dedicatory inscription noting the ruler under which the ciborium was erected as well as the name of the workshop from which it came. It reads as follows:

• IN N(OMINE) D(OMI)NI I(E)H(S)U XR(ISTI)/ DE DOMINIS SANCTI/ IUHANNE BAPTESTE/ EDIFICATUS EST/ HANC CIBORIUS/ SUB TEMPORE/ DOMINE NOSTRO/ LIOPRANDO REGE/ ET VB PATER NO(STRO) DOMNICO EPISCOPO/ ET CUSTODES EIUS/ VV VIDALIANO ET/ TANCOL PR(ES)B(ITE)RIS/ ET REFOL GASTALDIO/ GONDELME INDIGNUS/ DIACONUS SCRIPSI

The top portion of the ciborium is what naturally contains the most decorative ornamentation with each of the four sides containing intricate, geometric carvings. In addition to these, on each side there can also be found symbols. First and foremost, on the front, the Cross of Christ with a dove on each side:

Next, we see peacocks -- Christian symbols of Resurrection and Eternal Life:

Next, we find grapes and grapevines -- Eucharistic symbols:

Finally, the last of the four sides includes images of fish and the sun -- no doubt in part as both a Christological reference and possibly also (with regard the fish) a reference to the miracle of the loaves and fishes, itself considered a Eucharistic reference. 

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