Anonymous (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin holding a medallion of Christ before her; no surviving inscription; the “Tongues of Fire” appear above the sigla. Sigla: ̣̅Θ̣̅. : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)[ῦ]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Bust of an empress or female saint holding a cross-staff in her right hand, her left hand is effaced; remains of an illegible inscription flank the figure. Inscription: Ι|̣|Ε. : ἅγια Ε.... ? Border of dots.
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin holding a medallion of Christ before her; no surviving inscription; the “Tongues of Fire” appear above the sigla. Sigla: ̣̅Θ̣̅. : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)[ῦ]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Bust of an empress or female saint holding a cross-staff in her right hand, her left hand is effaced; remains of an illegible inscription flank the figure. Inscription: Ι|̣|Ε. : ἅγια Ε.... ? Border of dots.
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.3435 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 21.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 7, no. 9.15. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 7: The Iconographic Seals (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
For discussion of the ”Tongues of Fire” accompanying Marian sphragistic images, see BZS.1955.1.1822.
The female figure’s type of scepter and crown point to the mid-eleventh century as they are similar to those found on the tetartera coins issued by the empress Theodora (1055-1056) (see DOC, 3:2, 752-753, pl. 62, nos. 2,2 – 2.14).