Talk:Shrine of Miosach

Is the frontpiece modelled on the Israelite high priest's breastpiece?
The Description of the frontpiece contains these sentences: "It still has the original metal cord used for carrying it. Its length indicates that it was probably intended to be worn around the neck." This and the fact that it has semi-precious stones suggests that it could have been modelled on the breastpiece worn by the Israelite high priest and described in Exodus 28:15-21.
 * Fashion a breastpiece … of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. It is to be square — a span long and a span wide — and folded double. Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite and beryl; the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst; the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings. There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

Braided rope-like chains of pure gold were attached to a ring at each of the four corners; the other ends of the chains were attached to the shoulders and the waistband, so that the breastpiece would be snug against the wearer.

Given that there are only two attachment points for the frontpiece, it may be that it was worn at the waist, not hung around the neck; for the latter, the two attachment points would logically have been the upper two corners.

While there are similarities, there are differences: - there were 12 stones in the breastpiece, but only 8 (large) stones in the frontpiece; - there was a ring at each of the four corners of the breastpiece, but only two at the middle of the short sides (the first graphic shows one; I'm surmising that there's another at the other side); - the breastpiece was about 23 cm square, but the frontpiece is rectangular (23.2 cm wide x 26.6 cm high - but these dimensions are close to those for the breastpiece); - the materials are quite different - gold, yarn and linen for the breastpiece, yew-wood, bronze, silver and enamel for the frontpiece.

Despite these differences, could the purpose have been similar, and the frontpiece was worn by the one officiating at the shrine? Prisoner of Zenda (talk) 02:25, 9 July 2021 (UTC)
 * Interesting, and thanks for bringing the association here. Ceoil (talk) 00:45, 12 July 2021 (UTC)