Sign of the Cross: contexts for the Ivory Cross of San Millán de la Cogolla
Glaire D. Anderson
This article focuses on the surviving arms of ivory cross San Millán de la Cogolla and proposes a new interpretation for its striking Córdoban visual aesthetic. The rejects an interpretive framework privileging religious divisions between Muslims Christians. Instead this essay emphasizes kinship political ties that connected Andalusi caliph ‘Abd al- Raḥmān III (r. 912–61) Toda, Queen Pamplona. Tota, as she is named in Latin charters, or Tuta bint Asnar, Umayyad court chronicle, has long been recognized key figure milieu tenth-century Iberia. Using material evidence departure point, considers Arabic texts point to Tota's centrality not only politics, but also cultural transfer al-Andalus Hispania. presence at Millán, aesthetic, I argue, are symptomatic strategic use her connection al-Raḥmān III, which used – made manifest through culture establish, proclaim, consolidate power authority herself, children grandchildren, who subsequently ascended thrones Pamplona León northern counterparts their kin, caliphs Córdoba.
Journal of Medieval Iberian Studies