|
Date: |
|
Description: | A complete but damaged and modified cast circular lead bulla (seal) of Pope Alexander IIII (AD 1254-61). Daimeter 39.0mm, thickness 4.0mm. Weight 42.23g. Orientation: obverse 12/reverse 12.
Obverse: Inscription ALE/XANDER/PP IIII (in three lines). PP = 'pastor pastorum' - shepherd of the shepherds.
Reverse: Busts of St Paul and St Peter. Each bust is within a beaded aureole. Above the busts is an inscription SPA SPE. The beading of St Peter's head and beard and also around the circumference is incomplete due to wear. There are 25 pellets around St Paul's head and 26 pellets around St Peters head.
The bulla has been modified by piercing consisting of a sub-circular hole through the lower part of St Peter's beard. The hole is about 3.0mm in diameter and may have been for suspension or to accommodate a nail. The piercing may indicate an amuletic significance.
The central cord hole is flattened. Consequently, it is not possible to determine from impressions, or surviving material, whether the cord was made of silk or hemp.
This bulla was found in two separate pieces but joined together by the finder. It is worn and also damaged in places and has a well developed pale buff patina.
Tim Pestell has commented:
"Papal bulls came as two basic types, according to the contents of the document: Tituli, or "Letters of Grace", essentially granted or confirmed rights, conferred benefices or promulgated statutes. They generally had their lead bullae attached with cords of silk. Mandamenta, or "Letters of Justice" were mandates that conveyed papal orders, prohibitions or injunctions, and had their bullae attached by hemp threads".
The seal is very worn and the details on the side depicting St. Paul and St. Peter are barely discernable. This may indicate that the die for this side of the bulla had been in long use, whereas the die for the reverse, depicting the name of the Pope, would have been cut at the beginning of Alexander's papacy. | Format: | text/html | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Publisher: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Rights holder: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Subjects: | archaeology | Temporal: | 1254
1261 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Frank Basford | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
BULLA
A complete but damaged and…
-
BULLA
A complete cast circular lead…
-
BULLA
A complete cast circular lead…
-
BULLA
Cast lead alloy cut half…
-
BULLA
A modified and incomplete cast…
-
BULLA
A complete Medieval cast lead…
-
BULLA
A Medieval lead Papal bulla…
-
BULLA
Medieval (1243-1254) lead papal bull…
-
BULLA
An incomplete lead alloy papal…
-
BULLA
A lead alloy papal bulla…
|