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Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin orans. Sigla: ̣̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Two saints, most likely Peter and Paul standing and embracing; only partial trace of surviving inscription. Inscription in two columns (only partial trace of left survives): ̣|Π̣ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Π[έτρος]. Indeterminate border. 

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin orans. Sigla: ̣̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Two saints, most likely Peter and Paul standing and embracing; only partial trace of surviving inscription. Inscription in two columns (only partial trace of left survives): ̣|Π̣ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Π[έτρος]. Indeterminate border. 

Accession number BZS.1958.106.1844
Diameter 21.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 7, 5.15. See also Galavaris, “Seals of the Byzantine Empire,” fig. 9.

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. 

Bibliography

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