Leu Numismatik AG
Web Auction 18 18-21 Dec 2021
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The clerics of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, 12th century. Seal (Lead, 15x29 mm, 10.15 g, 12 h). The Anastasis: Christ advancing right, leading Adam from hell, Eve standing behind. Rev. [OI KΛ]IPV/[KI T૪] AΓI૪ / [KЄ ZⲰ]OΔO/[X૪ T]AΦ૪ ("The clerics of the Holy and Life-giving Sepulchre") in four lines. Laurent, Corpus V/2, 1567. Seyrig 253. A highly important seal of great historical interest. Halved, otherwise, very fine.
The parallel example from the Seyrig collection was dated by Laurent to the 11th century. In its 2nd edition, 25 years later, it was dated a century later, to the end of the 12th century, on stylistic and palaeographical grounds. The editors propose that the seal belonged to the Greek clergy of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, who were evicted by the Crusaders. Our seal would then belong to the time after their return to the building in the wake of the Muslim reconquest of Jerusalem in 1187.
The parallel example from the Seyrig collection was dated by Laurent to the 11th century. In its 2nd edition, 25 years later, it was dated a century later, to the end of the 12th century, on stylistic and palaeographical grounds. The editors propose that the seal belonged to the Greek clergy of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, who were evicted by the Crusaders. Our seal would then belong to the time after their return to the building in the wake of the Muslim reconquest of Jerusalem in 1187.