Archaeologists from Novgorod State University in the town of Staraya Russa, in northwestern Russia, have found an 11th-century copper medallion amulet that combines two traditions.
On one side of the copper medallion is a Christian warrior carrying a spear and shield, presumably Theodore Stratilates. On the other side is the head of a woman with snake-like hair, believed by local archaeologists to be Medusa the Gorgon.
Such amulets are usually called "serpent amulets" (zemivic). According to Sergei Toropov, head of the Center for Archaeological Research at Novgorod State University, the image on the reverse side is not literally Medusa, but rather a symbol of the dark forces from which the amulet was meant to protect.
The tradition of snake amulets (zmevic) came to Rus' from Byzantium. These pieces were used as talismans for protection against disease and other disasters. Their unusual iconography shows that the spread of Christianity did not mean the immediate disappearance of older conceptions of supernatural protection.
This is precisely why the amulet found in Staraya Russa is of particular importance. On a small piece, side by side, appeared the image of a Christian saint and an image associated with a much older tradition.
Researchers believe the discovery also confirms the presence of a Christian community in Staraya Russa as early as the 11th century. At the same time, the local population may have continued to adhere to their usual protective beliefs, integrating them with the new religious symbolism.
This discovery is among the oldest snake amulets in Staraya Russa, with previous finds dating back to the 12th and 14th centuries, while this particular amulet dates to the 11th century. It was likely crafted locally, imitating Byzantine models. This suggests that local artisans not only adopted a foreign tradition but also reproduced pieces associated with this ancient custom.
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