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Germanos (seventh/eighth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of a beardless bishop-saint with curly hair; he wears a phelonion and omorphion ornamented with crosses. In his right hand, he holds a cross before him; in his left hand, a Gospel book with a row of pellets on the cover. A cross on either side. Wreath border.

Reverse

Cruciform monogram. Wreath border.

Ν

Γερμανοῦ

Obverse

Bust of a beardless bishop-saint with curly hair; he wears a phelonion and omorphion ornamented with crosses. In his right hand, he holds a cross before him; in his left hand, a Gospel book with a row of pellets on the cover. A cross on either side. Wreath border.

Reverse

Cruciform monogram. Wreath border.

Ν

Γερμανοῦ

Accession number BZS.1955.1.224
Diameter 31.0 mm; field: 25.0 mm
Previous Editions

Zacos-Veglery, no. 1300.

Translation

Γερμανοῦ.

(Seal of) Germanos.

Commentary

Zacos points out the resemblance of the iconography on this seal to solidi of the second reign of Justinian II (705-711) which coincided with the artistic revival of the first decades of the eighth century. This may be an image of the bishop-saint Germanos of Capua (sixth century), or it may represent a bishop-saint of another name. It may also be a rare image of a bishop who is not a saint, as the figure has no nimbus; although rare, this is not out of the question. See now the article by John Cotsonis, "A unique image of the Holy Patriarch Germanos I on a lead seal," DOP 77 (2023), 321-28.

Bibliography