E02904.jpg (289.34 kB)
Download fileE02904: Three lead seals of the metropolitan bishops of Hierapolis in southwest Phrygia (west central Asia Minor) with labelled images of *Philip (the Apostle, S00109). Probably 6th-7th c. or later.
online resource
posted on 2017-06-02, 00:00 authored by pnowakowskiSeal 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.
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.
History
Evidence ID
E02904Saint Name
Philip the Apostle, ob. 1st c. : S00109Saint Name in Source
ΦίλιπποςRelated Saint Records
Image Caption 1
Seal 1. From: D'Andria 2005-2006, 360.Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Inscribed objects Images and objects - Rings and sealsLanguage
- Greek
Evidence not before
500Evidence not after
1300Activity not before
500Activity not after
1300Place of Evidence - Region
Asia MinorPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
HierapolisPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Hierapolis Nicomedia Νικομήδεια Nikomēdeia Izmit Πραίνετος Prainetos NicomediaCult activities - Places
Cult building - independent (church)Cult activities - Use of Images
- Private ownership of an image