St_Peter jpg
(6.14 MB, 1521x2148)
St_Andrew jpg
(3.98 MB, 1364x2040)
St_Paul jpg
(5.32 MB, 1491x2197)
St_Philip jpg
(3.01 MB, 1386x1633)
Now we should move on to the cross straps. Here the enamel covers the icons as a whole and the gold of the straps are finer.
On the top laying the Pantokrator, we met that picture already, so I won't linger here much, but I want to interject one thing. This depiction of the Pantokrator with two cypress on his sides are unique to these two icons on the Crown, art history doesn't know another.
But let's get started.
Six of the eight apostles are visible in their entirety.
On the left strap - on the right hand of the Pantokrator - above lays Peter. The label says SCSPETRVS. He has the key - two in fact - as usual. What else can we tell, we'll see later.
Below Andrew - SCSANDREAS - who was Peter's brother. While the pope sits on Peter's chair, the patriarch of Constantinople is the successor of Andrew. He holds a book, probably the Gospel since that his attribute.
On the right strap above they placed Paul, paired up with Peter basically. Labeled SCSPAVLUS. Now that's curious. Latins they used V instead of U. On every occurrence on these plates it's V and even the first one in Paulus it's V, just the second isn't. This guy is a special kind of apostle, isn't one from the original Twelve (or the revised Twelve), he is the example that even for the most wicked there is a salvation. He wasn't just a generic sinner but a persecutor of the disciples. If the whores and tax collectors are loved by God then him is loved even more. And frankly after Peter his was the most important role in the new religion.
Funky thing: traditionally depictions of Jesus with Peter and Paul on his side show the two apostles in reverse compared how they are placed onto the Crown. This led to the speculation that the arrangement of the apostles were changed.
Below Philip - SCSPHILIPVS. We saw why Andrew might have been placed where he was, but Philip apostle has no relation of any kind with Paul. This also looks like an anomaly. It gets a little weirder. We assume these are all apostles but the Crown doesn't say it in any way it says only that they are saints. And there is one Philip in Paul's life, the Evangelist who was visited by Paul. Maybe this Philip the one on the crown? Moreover sometimes the two Philips are mistaken with each other and/or thought to be the same. Accidents happen.