The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Seal 1:

Lead seal. Diameter: 37 mm; Th. 3 mm.

Found in the south sector of the atrium of the cathedral amongst debris datable to the 11th/12th c. Triangular hole in the upper left-hand quarter of the obverse, probably caused during the striking of the seal.

Obverse: depiction of a bearded man with nimbus, standing. He is wearing a tunica and cloak, and is holding a long palm leaf in his left hand, while blessing with his right hand. The vertical label, flanking the figure, reads: [ὁ] ἅ|γ|ι|ο|ς Φ|ί|λι|ππ|ο|ς/'Saint Philip'.

Reverse: inscription in four lines, surrounded by a floral ornament: Γρη|γορίῳ με|τροπ(ολίτῃ) Ἱε|ραπόλ(εως)/'(Seal) of Gregorios, metropolitan (bishop) of Hierapolis.'

In spite of the archaeological context of the find, D'Andria plausibly argues that the shape of letters is characteristic of a much earlier period, perhaps the 6th/7th c.

Text: D'Andria 2005=2006, 359-361.

Seal 2:

Lead seal. Probably from the former Schlumberger collection. Diameter: 21-24 mm.

Obverse: image of a man with nimbus, standing. He is holding a large processional cross in his right hand. To the left of him there is a shrub or a palm leaf. Inscription flanking the figure reads: ὁ ἅγιος Φίλι- ππος/'Saint Philip.'

Reverse: a monogram, probably reading: + Χριστοφόρος μητροπολίτης Ἱεραπόλεως Πακατιανῆς/'+ Christophoros, metropolitan (bishop) of Hierapolis of (the province of Phrygia) Pakatiane' (Laurent's interpretation. According to Schlumberger, less plausibly, the monogram reads: + Φίλιππος μητροπολίτης Ἱεραπόλεως Φρυγίας Πακατιανῆς/'+ Philippos, metropolitan (bishop) of Hierapolis of (the province of) Phrygia Pakatiane').

Dating: probably 6th/7th c., as suggested by Laurent, although Schlumberger opted for a date in the 11th or 12th c. Sylvain Destephen records the owner of the seal as bishop Christophoros in the third volume of the Prosopographie chrétienne du Bas-Empire, and places him in the period: 575-625 (see PCBE 3, s.v. Christophoros 2).

Text: Laurent 1963, no. 728.

Seal 3:

Lead seal. Dimensions not specified. Found in the Byzantine Courtyard House at the ancient agora.

Obverse: depiction of the Archangel Michael.

Reverse: A man with nimbus, standing. Fragmentary inscription: [Φίλιπ]|πος/'Philip.'

Paul Arthur supposes that the seal belonged to a cleric, probably a bishop. The building, where the seal was found, dates probably to c. 11th c. and could have served as the administrative centre of a large estate. Some coins of the emperors Leo VI (886-912), Michael IV (1034-1041), and Constantine X (1057-1059) were also unearthed there. It is possible that the seal dates to the 6th/7th c., like the two object discussed above, but the image of the Archangel Michael, shown on the obverse, is a characteristic feature of middle Byzantine seals.

Text: Arthur 2006, 93.

Cult building - independent (church)

Private ownership of an image

Ecclesiastics - bishops

Other

Bibliography

Images

Seal 1. From: D'Andria 2005-2006, 360.