Crux Mensuralis
One of the treasures of ancient Constantinople was the Crux Mensuralis, or ‘cross of the measure’, which was commissioned by emperor Justinian I. There are accounts which describe how Justinian had commanded some of his most trusted men to find the exact height of Jesus Christ. The Crux Mensuralis, made from gold, silver and precious stones, was said to have been fashioned according to this measurement. It was kept in the Basilica of St. Sophia until disappearing forever in 1204 following the looting and destruction of Constantinople.
However, there is a richly decorated codex dating to 1293 in the Medici Collection in the Laurentian Library which reveals the height of the Crux Mensuralis. The Latin inscription describes how the length of a ribbon under an illustration of Jesus Christ can be used to calculate his height, which when translated reads:
This line multiplied by two times six indicates the measurement of the body of Christ. Moreover, it has been taken in Constantinople from the gold cross shaped in the form of the body of Christ.
The ribbon measures fifteen centimetres, which when multiplied by two times six gives a height of 180 centimetres, or 5 feet 11 inches. This is the same height as the Man of the Shroud according to calculations made by several researchers who have studied the body images seen on the Shroud.
Emperor Justinian I reigned during the period 527 to 565 AD, some five centuries after Jesus Christ walked on this earth. We do not know for certain how Justinian’s trusted advisors were able correctly to establish the true height of Jesus Christ but the fact that their measurement exactly matches the height of the body that had been covered by the Shroud indicates that it is very likely that their source was this sacred cloth.
The following link provides further information on the Crux Mensuralis
Crux Mensuralis of Grottaferrata and Shroud of Turin Paper presented by Giuseppe Baldacchini et al, at the International Workshop on the Scientific approach to the Acheiropoietos Images, ENEA Frascati, Italy, 4‐6 May 2010.
