HAND MADE UNIQUE ARTISAN CROSS RING. MADE FROM REAL ANTIQUE BRONZE CROSS FROM THE BYZANTINE PERIOD. (FOUND IN MIDDLE EAST EXCAVATIONS). SET IN STERLING SILVER 925. + A LITTLE BIT 18K GOLD CENTER PIN. RING DESIGN SURFACE AREA SIZE: 25 X 18 MM. SILVER FINISH IS MAT. THE HISTORY BEHIND THIS ARTIFACT. The Byzantine Empire began when the fourth century Emperor, Constantine. Christianized the Roman Empire, making Byzantium the center of its domain with Constantinople as its capital. Due to the change in religion to Christianity, Constantine would later be canonized as St. The uniting of Greek, Roman and Christian cultures gave rise to some of the world’s greatest achievements in architecture, art and jewelry design. Numerous examples of the magnificent Byzantine jewelry have been found in the ancient Holy Land on archaeological digs and shipwreck dives. These ancient Byzantine crosses were symbols of Christian faith and proudly worn by the people who lived and worshiped during the period. The Byzantine cross has been exhibited in. Museums as the keystone of the Byzantine culture and its religion. Byzantine Empire 324-640 A.