Overview

Dumbarton Oaks houses the largest collection of Byzantine lead seals in the world, with approximately 17,000 specimens. Volume 7 of the ongoing series of Dumbarton Oaks catalogues presents a distinct part of the collection: 572 anonymous seals bearing sacred images on both sides. The seals, almost all previously unpublished, are fully illustrated and accompanied by a detailed commentary that provides transcriptions of the identifying sigla. This volume represents the first attempt to analyze this group of seals chronologically and typologically. The depictions of Christ, the Virgin, and a remarkably wide array of saints and narrative scenes offer rich and untapped material for scholars interested in Byzantine piety and culture. Discernible trends within this body of seals help to track the popularity of various saints and the changes in devotional images over time. The variety of these images, enhanced by reference to examples in other collections, will also enable scholars to compare the renderings of holy figures on lead seals to those appearing in other Byzantine religious images.

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9780884024729

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Reviews

This catalogue is much more than a mere catalogue...The result is an impressive work that I also recommend to those who are not interested in seals but in Byzantine coins. -- Ursula Kampman * CoinsWeekly *

Author Information

John A. Cotsonis is Bishop of Amissos and Director of the Archbishop Iakovos Library and Learning Resource Center at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

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