#orans

~ Amulet engraved with an "orans" figure, ankh-shaped cross on reverse.

Place of origin: Egypt

Date: ca. A.D. 400-600

Period: Byzantine

“The word orans (also orant or orante) literally means ‘one who prays.’  It comes from the Latin word ‘oro’–meaning to pray, beg, supplicate, or beseech. The orans posture is considered one of the oldest bodily attitudes for prayer. It was common among both Jews and Gentiles of the ancient world. The posture is described as standing with arms to the side, elbows bent, and hands opened upward.

For the early Christians in the 2nd-6th Centuries, a figure in the orans position was symbolic of the soul. Frescos of human figures in this position are represented 153 times in the Roman Catacombs.

Besides being a figurative imitation of Christ on the cross, offering himself as a complete and willing sacrifice, the orans posture is also symbolic of the risen Christ. Therefore the the orans figures found the Roman Catacombs have been interpreted as symbols of faith and even of the Church itself.

In I Timothy 2:8, Paul says, ‘I want peoples everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.’ The orans gesture signifies one who is ready to receive the divine gifts for God. It is also considered a gesture of peace, as it is non-defensive and non-threatening.”

Even more that stretching out the hands to heaven, one must lift up the soul heavenward. More than raising up the eyes, one must lift up the spirit to God. For there can be no doubt that among a thousand possible positions of the body, outstretched hands and uplifted eyes are to be preferred above all others, so imaging forth in the body those directions of the soul which are fitting in prayer.”

(Text taken from Wikipedia, prayerbedes.com, and The Compass: Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Green Bay, WI)

Very Rare Celtic Gold Coin with a Chariot and Carnyx

This 1/4 stater was struck by an uncertain tribe in Northwest Gaul during the third to second centuries BC. The obverse is a beardless male with curly hair facing to the right, however, the reverse is what's special about this coin. It shows a Celticized version of a biga (chariot), a horse standing to the right with a male figure on its back. He is blowing an ancient musical instrument, a carnyx. There is a long-fingered figure below the horse with both hands raised. An arrow is behind the rider and a sickle shaped razor is in front of the horse. This is a very rare coin with a remarkably attractive and curious reverse. The obverse is struck from a worn die, otherwise, the coin is extremely fine.

Known as the ‘Trumpet Type,’ its obverse is clearly an early member of the long series that ended up with the extraordinary heads from the Channel Islands and the coast nearby. However, the reverse is simply astounding with its remarkable horse, and the ‘rider’ blowing his horn. As for the rather orans-like figure with his arms raised in praise or prayer below the horse, there are virtually no parallels.

The carnyx was a bronze wind instrument used by Iron Age Celts to rally troops and strike fear into the heart of their enemies from around 200 BC to 200 AD. It took the form of a very elongated ’S’ shaped tube. The horn’s bell was usually shaped like an animal’s head with its mouth wide open. Seven carnyces were discovered at Tintignac, France; six of them have boar-shaped heads and the seventh takes the shape of a a serpent-like beast.  

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HOW THE COPS PRAYED? THE ORANS POSITION

Recently, Christie’s sold a Coptic textile fragment from the c. 5th/6th century AD. It is 38 cm by 31.7 cm; and it fetched a price of $8,750. It is an unusual fragment. It depicts a Coptic man praying. The middle aged, bearded man lifts up his two arms; his hands wide open and with the palms facing away from him towards the Almighty. This is the prayer position the Copts have adopted from the…