Reliquary
of Popes Leo I, II, III and IV.
Silver and gold-plated silver.
The reliquary
has the form of an urn closed by a lid with a crucifix on top
of it. The urn is richly decorated with plant motifs and has an
opening on the front part. Leo I is famous for his intervention
with Attila which brought about the Huns departure from Italy.
Leo III solemnly crowned Charlemagne emperor on Christmas night
in the year 800, and Leo IV built the Leonine City in the year
850 around the Vatican Basilica to save Rome from the Saracen
raids.
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A
few of the many items on display in the Treasury Museum
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