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The golden treasure

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The gold and silver reliquaries

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Charlemagne's A

Despite its name, this reliquary only dates back to the beginning of the XIIth century. Indeed one inscription specifies that "the abbot Bégon made this object be fashioned and placed some relics" , perhaps some pieces of the wooden Real Cross then put at the top behind the big convex rock crystal which acts as a magnifying glass. Each downstroke of this hollowed out triangle holds a small interior spur which effectively begins the horizontal shut of the letter A , or capital alpha. Such an unusual aspect for a reliquary could have been inspired by the adorned letter of a manuscript. Conques' chronicle written when the reliquary has been made reports a tradition according to which Charlemagne, founder of about twenty abbey, would have sent to each one of them one reliquary corresponding to each letter of the alphabet. Therefore, A , was for Conques the first of these monasteries.

Pépin's shrine

Attributed to the generosity of Pépin II, Charlemagne's grandson, who ruled over the Aquitaine from 817 to 838, this reliquary only dates back to the year one thousand. Nevertheless, inside, some pieces of a crucifixion have been discovered. It belonged to a first reliquary, also in gold, probably contemporary with Pépin II. It is house-shaped with two doves on the roof which spread their wings in enamel work. The other side is dedicated to the crucifixion scene which takes off on a jewel seedling as a watermark. The artist wanted to fix the last moments of Christ's earthly life ; despite the rigidity of his body, Jesus is still alive on the cross, his eyes opened and his head turned towards Saint Jean on his right. On the other side, Mary expresses all her emotion raising pathetically her hand on her breast.

Bégon's lantern

This silver reliquary traditionnally called Bégon's or Saint Vincent's lantern, according to whether we take into account the abbot who made it be carried out or the relics it holds, bears the shape of one of these dead lantern which lamp formerly lit by night all the cemeteries to pay homage to the deceased. Among the base's medallions, we can notice the one which illustrates a very beautiful David bringing down the lion.

Reliquary of Pope Pascal II

Once more one inscription refers to the abbot Bégon III : "Bégon has made me be carried out, God be clement to him". . The Crucifixion plate in golden silver seems to be a added boo-binding. We can notice the sun and moon personalized through the shape of two small figures in bust, sheltered in a crescent ; both cry in order to express the universal mourning when Christ died.

Arm of Saint Georges

This silver piece of the XIIIth century represents a hand which blesses. Indeed, in the Middle Ages, a tradition of the religious silversmith consisted in giving to the reliquary the shape of the relic it held. In that case, it is a bone of Saint Georges' arm, monk of Conques then become Lodève's bishop in the Xth century.

Processional Cross

This cross is made with silver-plates decorated with fine stones, cabochons and intails. On the front, it represents Christ between the Virgin and Saint Jean and, on the reverse side, a charming statuette of Saint Foy with her long loose plait between the four evangelists. At last, the apostles are placed at the basis between small pinnacle buttresses in a flamboyant gothic style.

Texts from Jean-Claude FAU Guide Bleu - Midi Pyrénées Photographs from André KUMURDJIAN Translation from Valérie FABRE

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