Εικονογραφικά βυζαντινών μολυβδοβούλλων : Ο αυτοκράτορας, η εκκλησία, η αριστοκρατία
Part of : Δελτίον της Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας ; Vol.38, 1999, pages 261-274
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261-274
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The Iconography of Byzantine Lead Seals : The Emperor, the Church, the Aristocracy
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Articles
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Abstract:
The present study offers a series of observations on therole played by the element of personal choice in the selection of the iconography on Byzantine seals. Both imperialseals and the seals of church dignitaries, such as patriarchsand bishops, are considered, as well as seals used by members of the aristocracy.The use of religious themes on imperial lead seals does notseem to have reflected specific dynastic preferences. Themain goal of the iconography on Byzantine coins was to project the personality of the emperor and to make hismultifaceted power a public reality. In contrast, the imperiallead seal was an object for personal use with a limitedcirculation and drew its imagery from current religious andpolitical beliefs.The patron saint of the city or wider area where the dioceseor other ecclesiastic authority was located was a favoritesubject in the lead seals of church dignitaries.In the case of seals belonging to members of well-knownByzantine families, it is difficult to trace the criteria thatwere used to select iconographie images; this is true both forrelatives of the emperor and for those individuals who boreprestigious titles as members of the political or militaryaristocracy.The images on certain seals suggest that the sources of inspiration must have been a specific devotional object in thepossession of the members of one of the above-mentionedfamilies. These would have mainly been portable painted ormosaic icons, but could also have included icons painted onslabs of soapstone which served the needs of private worship and protected private precincts, dwellings or chapels,similar to the function of family palladia, serving asprotective images or objects.The study of seals belonging to various named or anonymous administrative state officials presents major difficulties when we attempt to seek the criteria on which theselection of iconographie images was based. In contrast tothe seals of church dignitaries, standard criteria do not appear to have existed, even in the case of provincial administrative officials. In the majority of cases it was the personal preference of the seal's owner which prevailed, andhis choice was influenced by a variety of factors.Certain less typical examples of iconography in each of theabove-mentioned categories are described and an attemptis made to interpret them. Additionally, in the case of anumber of seals the subject of their iconographie imagesnecessitates further clarification regarding, among otherthings, their chronology, the church history of cities with thesame name, the identities of individuals with the samename, and the location of monasteries or other ecclesiastical institutions.
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