

| Material : Gold, Ruby, Precious stones, Emerald
| Item 3 on 39 Objet(s) d'Art Object of worship
Area related Istanbul (Turkey)
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 | Description |  |
The skull of St. John the Baptist was originally in the possession of the Byzantines and fell into Ottoman hands after the conquest. The relic was presented by Mehmed II (1451/1481) to Mara Despina, daughter of the Serbian king. Subsequently it became the property of Cezayirli Hasan Pasa, and after his death brought to the palace around 1790.
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