Plaque with the Journey to Emmaus and the Noli Me Tangere

Spanish, circa 1115-1120
Ivory, traces of gilding; 10⅝ x 55/16 in. (27 x 13.5 cm.)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 17.190.47

In the upper image Christ speaks with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-33). The disciples are equipped as pilgrims, one with a staff and the other with a stick supporting a water jug. Christ on the other hand carries only a scroll, a way of indicating that he is expounding the scriptures to them.

The inscription between the two images is D[OMI]N[U]S LOQUITUR MARIE, "The Lord speaks to Mary," referring to the lower image.

In the lower image, Mary reaches out to the resurrected Jesus, but he says, Noli me tangere (John 20:17). This phrase, meaning "do not touch me," is used to denote images of this type.

Read more about images of the Resurrection.
Read more about images of the Emmaus episode.

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City