Nomos AG
obolos 15 24 May 2020
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BYZANTINE SEALS. Monastery of Sts. Sergios and Bacchos. Circa 10-11th Century. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 30 mm, 24.70 g, 12 h), Constantinople. OA C/E/P-Γ/I/O Nimbate and draped bust of St. Sergius facing, beardless, holding cross with his right hand. Rev. O B/A/K-[X]/O/C Nimbate and draped bust of St. Bacchos facing, beardless, holding cross with his right hand. DOC -. Cheynet, Instanbul -. An extremely important and unusual seal. Very fine.
The iconography of this seal is indeed unusual. The depictions of these two saints are extremely uncommon in Byzantine sigillography. Also, apart from the busts of the saints and the inscriptions stating their names, there is no information about where this seal was produced, or for whom, information that almost all other Byzantine seals have. This leads to the assumption that the iconography itself was sufficient for the receiver of this seal to understand its origin. Yet the images of the two saints are not a product of a provincial engraver - the two saints were particularly popular in Syria, where they originally came from - and fit better as being from a workshop in the imperial capital of Constantinople. It is very tempting to assume that this very seal was issued for the famous monastery of Sts. Sergios and Bakhos, (known also as the small Aghia Sofia), which is located, and can be seen today, just behind the Aghia Sofia. It was built under Justinian I, between 527 and 536, shortly before of Aghia Sofia. It was considered one of the most holy places in Constantinople and was famous for its architecture and decoration.
The iconography of this seal is indeed unusual. The depictions of these two saints are extremely uncommon in Byzantine sigillography. Also, apart from the busts of the saints and the inscriptions stating their names, there is no information about where this seal was produced, or for whom, information that almost all other Byzantine seals have. This leads to the assumption that the iconography itself was sufficient for the receiver of this seal to understand its origin. Yet the images of the two saints are not a product of a provincial engraver - the two saints were particularly popular in Syria, where they originally came from - and fit better as being from a workshop in the imperial capital of Constantinople. It is very tempting to assume that this very seal was issued for the famous monastery of Sts. Sergios and Bakhos, (known also as the small Aghia Sofia), which is located, and can be seen today, just behind the Aghia Sofia. It was built under Justinian I, between 527 and 536, shortly before of Aghia Sofia. It was considered one of the most holy places in Constantinople and was famous for its architecture and decoration.