Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin orans. Sigla preserved at left: ̣̅ : Μή(τη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
The remains of two figures standing, with the left figure almost completely missing; Peter (left) and Paul (right) embracing. Inscription in two columns (only fragment of right survives): .|Π̣|.|.|., : [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Πέτρος | ὁ ἅ(γιος)] Π[αύλ](ος). Indeterminate border.
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin orans. Sigla preserved at left: ̣̅ : Μή(τη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
The remains of two figures standing, with the left figure almost completely missing; Peter (left) and Paul (right) embracing. Inscription in two columns (only fragment of right survives): .|Π̣|.|.|., : [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Πέτρος | ὁ ἅ(γιος)] Π[αύλ](ος). Indeterminate border.
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.1901 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 18.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 7, 5.12. |
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 7: The Iconographic Seals (Open in Zotero)
Parallel Seals
- Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)
- Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)
- Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)
- Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)
- Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)
- Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)
- Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)
- Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)
- Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)
Commentary
Among the published collections there are just nine examples of the image of Peter and Paul embracing, all belonging to the eleventh and eleventh/twelfth centuries. This image has been understood in various ways within the context of eleventh-century ecclesiastical events: as an emblem of reconciliation between Rome and Constantinople following the schism of 1054; as an image of current Byzantine liturgical Eucharistic practices; and as a visual statement of anti-Latin polemics regarding Eucharistic practices of concelebrating clergy. For a discussion of published seals bearing the image of Peter and Paul embracing, see Cotsonis, “Contribution,” 419-421 and Stepanenko, “The Sts. Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul,” 319-321. For discussion of the historical and liturgical understandings of the image, see Gerstel, “Apostolic Embraces,” 141-148; eadem, Beholding the Sacred Mysteries, 59-63; and Sinkević, Nerezi, 33.