The finest Byzantine art celebrates the Christian faith. In rare and precious materials, Byzantine artists created images-- mosaics, icons, sculpture-- meant to instruct and inspire. This lovely gem, carved from carnelian, depicts a bearded man with gentle eyes. This is almost surely a depiction of Jesus in his role as the savior of the world. The gem’s unusual form suggests that it may originally have been set in a body of gold. Today, surrounded by a radiant halo, it forms a stunning testament to an enduring faith.