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Anonymous (twelfth century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. Anna holding the infant Virgin in her right arm (as a dexiokratousa). Inscription: Η|ΑΓΙ|ΑΑ|Ν|ΝΑ. Linear border.

Reverse

Bust of St. Thomas. Inscription: Ο|Α|ΓΙ|ΟΘ|Ο|ΜΑ|Σ. Linear border.

Obverse

Bust of St. Anna holding the infant Virgin in her right arm (as a dexiokratousa). Inscription: Η|ΑΓΙ|ΑΑ|Ν|ΝΑ. Linear border.

Reverse

Bust of St. Thomas. Inscription: Ο|Α|ΓΙ|ΟΘ|Ο|ΜΑ|Σ. Linear border.

Accession number BZS.1958.106.4380
Diameter 20.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 7, no. 14.6.

Commentary

Female saints are rarely shown on seals (see Cotsonis, "Contribution," 477-86). In the published collections we find just three examples of Anna; in the first two, as with the DO specimen here, she is presented with the infant Virgin, recalling the images of the Mother of God holding the Christ Child. The third example shows Anna standing with her hands raised before her, paralleling the image of the Mother of God commonly found on seals. See Gerstel, "Female piety," 96-98.