I'm leaving, but where to?
Double Cup Reliquary
Westphalia (?)
1230/1250; Rock crystal: Abbasid (?), 9th/10th century
Silver; Niello; Rock crystal
Domschatz Münster, Inv.-Nr. E.34
Inscription: I(N)CLVSV(M) SA(NCT)I LAT(ET) hI[C] DE SA(N)GVINE PAVLI, QV(OD) CAESAR OTTO PO(N)TIFICI SVITGERO DED[IT]
[Enclosed herein lies hidden blood of Saint Paul, which Emperor Otto gave to Bishop Suitger]
It was above all high-ranking clergy and secular rulers who donated precious relics. The inscription on this reliquary records the gift of a relic of Paul to the Bishop of Münster, Suitger (office 993–1011), by Emperor Otto (r. 996–1002). It concerns "DE SA(N)GVINE PAVLI" – from the blood of Paul.
In addition to the relic housed in the golden bust reliquary, at least one other precious relic of Saint Paul was therefore present at Münster Cathedral in the 11th century. It was enclosed within an inverted rock-crystal chess piece. It is uncertain whether the chess piece was part of the original gift; the reliquary itself was not created until 200 years after the blood relic had been donated.
