#Exhibit of the Month

From the early days of Christianity, the cross meant not only an instrument of torture, but also a symbol of victory over death, a symbol of salvation. The object is made of silver, having the shape of a Byzantine cross with trapezoidal edges of the arms. The side arms and the one at the bottom seem to be turned inside a vessel (chalice (?)) with the trapezoidal "foot". The arms of the cross and of the "chalice" were ended with a decorative element in the shape of a sphere (drop). The cross has a decoration in relief, executed in the technique of filigree and granulation, consisting of drops, double and triple cords, circles with a drop in the center, and trefoils (?). In the center of the cross, at the intersection of the arms, there is a round mount with a cord-like edge, in which the pomegranate fruit is located. However, the main decorative element is the images of four peacocks turned to the right, with a snake in the beak, arranged on all the arms of the cross. The image of the peacocks is rendered in an artistic way, and their tails are stylized in the shape of a palmette.
The peacock, originated from India, due to its luxurious fan-shaped tail, was considered a symbol of the Sun. In ancient Greece, they were considered the sacred birds of the goddess Hera, and in ancient Rome they were considered the sacred birds of the goddess Juno. In Kievan Rus', the peacock (the Firebird) also symbolized the Sun. In the West, the peacock was considered a snake killer, and the iridescent colors of its tail were attributed to its ability to turn snake venom into solar substance. Since snakes in Iranian symbolism were considered enemies of the sun, it was believed that the peacock killed snakes, in order to create "eyes" from their saliva, iridescent with a bronze-green and gold-blue color on the feathers of its tail. Due to the bright splendor of the male peacock's tail, it has been compared with immortal gods and, therefore, with immortality. Peacocks are known as an emblem of greatness, royal authority, spiritual superiority, ideal creation.

In the early period of Christianity, the peacock was a symbol of love, resurrection, immortality, beauty, eternity of the soul, the all-seeing eye of the Church, and the peacock feather was the emblem of Saint Barbara. The image of peacocks with snakes in their beaks on the cross is not at all accidental; it symbolizes the victory of Christ over evil.

On the back side of the cross, traces of fixing are preserved, probably of a pin (missing), so the object served as a brooch (fibula), which was probably attached to the fabric. The piece is presumably dated back to the 9th-12th centuries.

The object has the following dimensions: height - 125 mm; width - 86 mm; weight - 47 g.

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Anuarul Muzeului Național de Istorie a Moldovei I (Yearbook of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Volume I, articles in Romanian and Russian), Chisinau, 1992, 303 p.
Price: 4,00 MDL
Anuarul II (1992) (Yearbook of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Volume II, articles in Romanian and Russian), Chisinau, 1995, 386 p.
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Tyragetia Anuar III (Tyragetia: Yearbook of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Volume III, articles in Romanian and Russian), Chisinau, 1996, 297 p.
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Tyragetia Anuar IV-V (Tyragetia, Volume IV - V, articles in Romanian with summaries in French), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 1996, 340 p.
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Tyragetia Anuar VI-VII (Tyragetia, Volume VI - VII, articles in Romanian with summaries in French), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 1998, 455 p.
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Tyragetia Anuar VIII (Tyragetia, Volume VIII, articles in Romanian with summaries in French), Chisinau: Universitas-Tyragetia, Chisinau, 1999, 256 p.
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Tyragetia Anuar IX (Tyragetia, Volume IX, articles in Romanian with summaries in French), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2000, 392 p.
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Tyragetia Anuar X (Tyragetia, Volume X, articles in Romanian with summaries in English), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2001, 314 p.
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Tyragetia Anuar XI (Tyragetia, Volume XI, articles in Romanian with summaries in English), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2002, 434 p.
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Tyragetia Anuar XII (Tyragetia, Volume XII, articles in Romanian with summaries in English), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2003, 372 p.
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Tyragetia. Anuar XIII (Tyragetia, Volume XIII, articles in Romanian with summaries in English), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2004, 303 p.
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Tyragetia. Anuar XIV, Revista de arheologie, istorie si culturologie (Tyragetia, Volume XIV: Archaeological, Historical, and Culturological Journal, articles in Romanian with summaries in English), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2005, 363 p.
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Tyragetia. Anuar XV (Tyragetia, Volume XV, articles in Romanian with summaries in English), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2006, 556 p.
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Tyragetia. Serie noua. Arheologie Istorie Antica, vol. I (XVI), nr. 1 (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume I (XVI), No. 1: Archaeology. Ancient History, articles in Romanian, Russian, and English with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2007, 403 p.
Price: 80,00 MDL
Tyragetia. Serie noua. Istorie Muzeologie, vol. I (XVI), nr. 2 (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume I (XVI), No. 2: History. Museology, articles in Romanian and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2007, 367 p.
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Tyragetia. Serie noua. Arheologie Istorie Antica, vol. II (XVII), nr. 1 (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume II (XVII), No. 1: Archaeology. Ancient History, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2008, 411 p.
Price: 125,00 MDL
Tyragetia. Serie noua. Istorie Muzeologie, vol. II (XVII), nr. 2 (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume II (XVII), No. 2: History. Museology, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2008, 379 p.
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Tyragetia. Serie noua. Arheologie Istorie Antica, vol. III (XVIII), nr. 1 (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume III (XVIII), No. 1: Archaeology. Ancient History, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2009, 398 p.
Price: 140,00 MDL
Tyragetia. Serie noua. Istorie Muzeologie, vol. III (XVIII), nr. 2 (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume III (XVIII), No. 2: History. Museology, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2009, 378 p.
Price: 140,00 MDL
Tyragetia. Serie noua. Arheologie Istorie Antica, vol. IV (XIX), nr. 1 (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume IV(XIX), No. 1: Archaeology. Ancient History, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2010, 314 p.
Price: 150,00 MDL
Tyragetia. Serie noua. Istorie Muzeologie, vol. IV (XIX), nr. 2 (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume IV (XIX), No. 2: History. Museology, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2010, 334 p.
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Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V (XX), nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume V (XX), No. 1: Archaeology. Ancient History, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2011, 408 p.
Price: 160,00 MDL
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V (XX), nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume V (XX), No. 2: History. Museology, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2011, 426 p.
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Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI (XXI), nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume VI (XXI), No. 1: Archaeology. Ancient History, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2012, 375 p.
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Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI (XXI), nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume VI (XXI), No. 2: History. Museology, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2011, 424 p.
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Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII (XXII), nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume VII (XXII), No. 1: Archaeology. Ancient History, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2013, 434 p.
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Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII (XXII), nr. 1, Istorie. Muzeologie (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume VII (XXII), No. 2: History. Museology, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2013, 434 p.
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Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII (XXIII), nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume VIII (XXIII), No. 1: Archaeology. Ancient History, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2014, 396 p.
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Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII (XXIII), nr. 1, Istorie. Muzeologie (Tyragetia, N. S., Volume VIII (XXIII), No. 2: History. Museology, articles in Romanian, English, and Russian with summaries in two languages), Chisinau, 2014, 400 p.
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Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2015.
Price: 180,00 MDL
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015.
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Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2016.
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Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2016.
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Tezaure monetare din muzeele orașului Chisinau, sec. XVI-XVIII (Treasures from the Museums of Chisinau, 16^th - 18^th centuries, in Romanian), Chisinau, 1994, 130 p.
Price: 4,00 MDL
Golitzeva N. V., Kasuba M. T., Glinjeni: Mnogoslojnyj pamjatnik Srednego Podnestrovija (Glinjeni: Multilayered Site of the Middle Dniester Region, in Russian), Tiraspol, 1995, 273 p.
Price: 18,00 MDL
E. Postica, Rezistența antisovietică în Basarabia, 1944-1950 (Anti-Soviet Resistance in Bessarabia (1944-1950), in Romanian), Chisinau, 1997, 340 p.
Price: 5,00 MDL
N. Chetraru, N. Serova, Necropola aristocrației scitice Dubăsari (sec. V-IV î.e.n.) (Necropolis of Scythian Aristocracy in Dubasari (5^th-4^th c. B. C.), in Romanian), Chisinau: Tyragetia, Chisinau, 2001, 76 p.
Price: 20,03 MDL
N. Chetraru, I. Rafalovici, Comoara pârcălabului Gangur (Parcalab Gangur's Treasures, in Romanian), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2002, 119 p.
Price: 10,00 MDL
M. Danilov, A. Gritco, L. Malahov, Cartea românească în colecțiile Muzeului Național de Istorie a Moldovei. Catalog (Romanian Books in the Collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova, 1683-1918, Catalogue, in Romanian). Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2002, 225 p.
Price: 35,00 MDL
Paul Gore. Omul și opera (Life and Work of Paul Gore, in Romanian), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2003, 256 p.
Price: 39,70 MDL
N. Chetraru, A. Moraru, N. Raileanu, Nicolae Morosan (Nicolae Morosan: The Tragedy of a Scientist, in Romanian), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2003, 260 p.
Price: 36,70 MDL
Cercetări arheologice în Republica Moldova (2000-2003), volumul I (Archaeological Research in the Republic of Moldova (2000-2003) Volume I, in Romanian), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2004, 132 p.
Price: 25,00 MDL
Studii de muzeologie și muzeografie, vol. I (Works on Museology, Volume I, articles in Romanian and Russian), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2004, 528 p.
Price: 62,20 MDL
Nicolae Chetraru, Nicolae Raileanu, Baronul Alexandru Stuart (Baron Alexander Stuart, in Romanian with abstract in English), Chisinau: Tyragetia, 2006, 112 p.
Price: 21,45 MDL
Ana Gritco, Popas în timp. Catalog de carte poștală ilustrată (Catalogue of Illustrated Postcards from the Collections of the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova, in Romanian with summary in English), Chisinau, 320 p.
Price: 80,00 MDL
Archeologicheskie issledovanija molodych uchenych Moldavii (Archaeological Investigations of Young Scientists from Moldova, in Russian), Chisinau, 1990, 176 p.
Price: 6,00 MDL
Numizmaticheskie issledovanija po istorii jugo-vostochnoj Evropy (Numismatic Investigations on the History of South-Eastern Europe, in Russian), Chisinau, 1990, 268 p.
Price: 8,00 MDL
Studii de muzeologie, volumul I (Proceedings on Museology. Volume I, articles in Romanian and Russian), Chisinau, 2008, 194 p.
Price: 70, 00 MDL
Maria Danilov, Cenzura sinodală și cartea religioasă în Basarabia. 1812-1918 (între tradiție și politica țaristă) (Synodal Censorship and Religious Books in Bessarabia, 1812 - 1918: Between the Tradition and Tsarist Policy, in Romanian with abstracts in English and Russian), Chisinau, 2007, 264 p.
Price: 50,00 MDL
Natalia Mateevici, Amforele grecești în mediul barbar din nord-vestul Pontului Euxin în sec. VI - începutul sec. II a. Chr. (Greek Amphorae in the Barbarian World of the North-Western Black Sea Littoral in 6^th - Early 2^nd Centuries B. C., in Romanian with abstract in French), Chisinau, 2007, 284 p.
Price: 50,00 MDL
Andrei Nicic, Interferențe cultural-cronologice în nord-vestul Pontului Euxin la finele mil. II - începutul mil. I a. Chr. (Cultural and Chronological Interferences in the North-Western Black Sea Littoral in the Late 2^nd - Early 1^st Millennia B.C., in Romanian with abstracts in English and Russian), Chisinau, 2008, 282 p.
Price: 90,00 MDL
Plosnita Elena, Concepte muzeografice cu profil de istorie: retrospectivă și perspectivă (Museum Concepts on History: Retrospective Review and Prospects, in Romanian with abstracts in English and Russian), Chisinau, 2008, 248 p.
Price: 70,00 MDL
Ion Niculita, Aurel Zanoci, Teodor Arnaut, Habitatul din mileniul I a. Chr. în regiunea Nistrului Mijlociu (siturile din zona Saharna) (The Habitat in the 1^st Millennium B.C. from the Middle Dniester Region (The Sites from Saharna Area), in Romanian with abstract in English), Chisinau, 2008, 408 p.
Price: 180,00 MDL
Sava Eugen, Kaiser Elke, Die Siedlung mit „Aschehügeln" beim Dorf Odaia-Miciurin, Republik Moldova (Archäologische und naturwissenschaftliche Untersuchungen) (The Settlement with "Ash Pits" near the Village of Odaia-Miciurin, the Republic of Moldova, in German and Russian), Chisinau, 2011, 532 p.
Price: 180,00 MDL
Plosnita Elena, Ursu Mihai, Enciclopedia muzeologiei din Republica Moldova (Encyclopedia of Museology of the Republic of Moldova, in Romanian, summaries in English, Russian, and French), Chisinau, 2011, 308 p.
Price: 130,00 MDL
I. Tentiuc, Contributions to the History and Archeology of the Prut-Dniester Region, Chișinău, 2012, 288 p.
Price: 110 MDL
Studies on Museology (2), Series „Biblioteca „Tyragetia" XXIII, Chișinău, 2013, 228 p.
Price: 100 MDL
A. Boldureanu, Ottoman Coins in Moldova from 1512 to 1603, Biblioteca „Tyragetia" XXIV, Chișinău, 2013.
Price: 90 MDL
Eugen Sava, Aurelia Cornețchi, Elena Postică, Elena Ploșnița, National Museum of History of Moldova 1983-2013, Series „Albums" I, Chișinău, 2013. 191 p.
Price: 200 MDL
I. Niculiță, A.Nicic, The Early Iron Age settlement and cemetery of Saharna-Ţiglău, Biblioteca „Tyragetia" XXV, Chișinău, 2014.
Price: 180 MDL
E. Sava, Settlements from the Late Bronze Age in the space between rivers Prut and Dniester (Noua-Sabatinovka), Biblioteca „Tyragetia" XXVI, Chișinău, 2014.
Price: 200 MDL
A. Chiroșca, Marial icon collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova (17th-20th centuries), Series „Albums" II, Chișinău, 2014.
Price: 300 MDL
Ana Grițco, Carol Schmidt. Întoarcere în timp, Chișinău, Bons Offices, 2014, 160 p.
Price: 65 MDL
Journal Labirint, 2001, nr. 2, Chișinău
Price: 25 MDL
Interferențe cultural-cronologice în spațiul nord-pontic, Chișinău, 2003, 388 p.
Preț: 43,57 MDL
Revista arheologică, 1998, nr. 2, Chișinău, 200 p.
Price: 21,24 MDL
В. Дергачев. Металлические изделия к прблеме генезиса культур раннего гольштата карпато-данубио-нордпонтийского региона. Кишинев, 1977 г. 104 с.
Price: 2,66 MDL
Н.А. Кетрару. Очерки истории археологии Молдовы. Кишинев, 2005 г. 88 с.
Price: 25 MDL
Ploșnița E., Muzeul și publicul: istorie și realități, Chișinău:Bons Offices, 2015, 215 p.
Price: 80 MDL
Man, culture, and society from the Copper Age until the Early Iron Age in Northern Eurasia (Contributions in honour of the 60th anniversary of Eugen Sava). Chișinău: Bons Offices 2016, 348 p.
Price: 450 MDL
Ana Niculiţă, Ancient Jewelry from the Collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova (Catalog), Series "Albums" III, Chişinău, 2018. 296 p Chişinău, 2018. 296 p.
Price: 300 lei
Е. Сава, С. Агульников, И. Манзура, Исследования курганов в Буджакской степи (1980-1985 гг.). Biblioteca „Tyragetia" XXX, Chişinău, 2019, 368 p. - 200 lei
S. Ţerna, M. Vasilache, Figurinele antropomorfe din etapa Cucuteni A din interfluviul pruto-nistrean (în baza colecţiilor Muzeului Naţional de Istorie a Moldovei) / Anthropomorphic figurines from Cucuteni A stage from the Prut-Dniester interfluve (the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova). Biblioteca „Tyragetia" XXXI, Chişinău, 2019, 263 p. - 250 lei

Guides

National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova, Chisinau, 2009
Price: 5,00 MDL

Leaflets

Antique treasure from Olănești, 1990.
Price: 0,15 MDL
Diorama of the Iasi-Chisinau Operation, National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova, 2009
Price: 2,00 MDL
Building of the National Museum of History of Moldova (in Romanian, English, and Russian), Chisinau, 2012.
Price: 10,00 MDL
National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova, 2009
Price: 5 MDL
Monument „Wolf with Romulus and Remus" in Chișinău, 2013
Price: 10 MDL

Postcards

Set of 16 illustrated postcards with the representations of the most valuable exhibit items
Price: 20, 00 MDL
Set of 16 illustrated postcards “Adornments: Echoes through Millennia”, National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova, 2009
Price: 20, 00 MDL
Set of 16 illustrated postcards “Writing Tools from the Collections of the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova”, 2009
Price: 20,00 MDL

Copies of exhibits

Female anthropomorphic figurine of the Cucuteni-Tripolye culture (5th - 4th millennia BC) discovered at Gura Cainarului, Floresti District.
Price: 25,00 MDL
Bull figurine of the Cucuteni-Tripolye culture (5th - 4th millennia BC), discovered at Badragii Vechi, Edinet District.
Price: 25,00 MDL
Zoomorphic vessel (2nd century AD)
Price: 35 MDL
Miniature painted plate, Cucuteni-Tripolie Culture (5th - 3rd millennia BC), with magnet
Price: 20 MDL
Miniature vessel, Cucuteni-Tripolie Culture (5th - 3rd millennia BC)
Price: 25 MDL
Bronze rider from the 10th-11th centuries, discovered at the medieval site from Hansca
Price: 10 MDL
Zoomorphic plate of a Scythian harness piece from the 6th century, discovered at Răscăieții Noi
Price: 10 MDL