Archaeologists recently discovered a rare Russian medallion that depicts a dramatic cultural clash between medieval Christianity and ancient Greek mythology. Excavated about 400 miles southeast of St. Petersburg near the town of Staraya, the 11th century pendant appears to showcase a warrior saint on its face with the snake-topped head of Medusa on the back. According to archaeologists, the copper-alloy medallion stems from an era in Russia that often straddled the line between regional medieval theology and pre-Christian superstition.
The small pendant was recovered from inside the remnants of an ancient urban estate, and is an example of Zmeeviki or coil image. These double-sided pieces traditionally paired a canonical Christian figure on the front with a “pagan” serpent form on the back. While the religious subjects commonly included Jesus, the Archangel Michael, and the Virgin Mary, some variants highlight other saints.
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