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Anonymous (eleventh century/twelfth)

 
 

Obverse

The Baptism: Christ stands at the center in the river Jordan next to a small cross; John the Baptist is at the left with his right hand over Christ, the Dove of the Holy Spirit is above Christ’s head, two angels attend at the right. Inscription in two columns (at left and lower right): Η||Α,Π|Τ|Ι|ΣΙΣ: ἡ Βάπτισις. Border of dots.   

 

Reverse

Saint John the Baptist standing, wearing a short loin cloth, blessing with his right hand and holding a long cross-staff in his left. Inscription in two columns: |Ι̅|ΟΠ|ΡΟΔ|Ρ̣Ο|Μ̣Ο̣|Σ̣ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Ἰω(άννης) ὁ Πρόδρομος. Border of dots.

Obverse

The Baptism: Christ stands at the center in the river Jordan next to a small cross; John the Baptist is at the left with his right hand over Christ, the Dove of the Holy Spirit is above Christ’s head, two angels attend at the right. Inscription in two columns (at left and lower right): Η||Α,Π|Τ|Ι|ΣΙΣ: ἡ Βάπτισις. Border of dots.   

 

Reverse

Saint John the Baptist standing, wearing a short loin cloth, blessing with his right hand and holding a long cross-staff in his left. Inscription in two columns: |Ι̅|ΟΠ|ΡΟΔ|Ρ̣Ο|Μ̣Ο̣|Σ̣ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Ἰω(άννης) ὁ Πρόδρομος. Border of dots.

Accession number BZS.1955.1.1767
Diameter 27.0 mm; field: 19.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 7, 2.11. 

Commentary

As in other post-Iconoclastic depictions of Christ's baptism, this scene also includes an image of the cross in the Jordan River, alluding to the cross put up at the pilgrimage site marking the traditionally accepted location of the biblical event in Palestine (see ODB 1: 715). Among the narrative scenes found on seals, the Baptism is not as frequently depicted as the Annunciation or the Anastasia. There are eight known specimens in the published collections, only two of which are from the middle Byzantine period.

On the reverse, the area of the Baptist’s garment above the waist is worn and one cannot determine if his clothing also covers part of his chest as usual. It would be very unusual to have the Baptist only in a loin cloth.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 7: The Iconographic Seals (Open in Zotero)