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Description: | An incomplete Medieval cast copper-alloy circular seal matrix (AD 1300-1400).This seal matrix has a circular die and a handle which is hexagonal in cross-section. The suspension loop is missing and the edges of the die are incomplete due to damage. The device depicts a 'pelican in her piety', and shows a female pelican perching on the edge of her nest, pecking at her breast in order to draw the blood with which she feeds her three chicks in the nest below. The inscription which starts at the top is partially complete due to damage and the only complete letters at the beginning are SVM[ ]. The full inscription may have read SVM PELICANVS DEI (pelican of God).This seal has a shiny dark green patina and the breaks are old. The surviving part of the matrix is in very good condition and the die features are sharp.Height: 17.38mm; width: 15.19mm; thickness: 13.99mm. Weight: 4.41g.The image known as "the pelican in her piety" has its roots in the Bible (Psalms, 102:6). The import of this bird, thought to be a creature of solitary habits dwelling in Egypt, was developed by Christian commentators. Essentially, the pelican chicks were held to attack their parents as they grew older; the parents, in response, struck back and killed the chicks. However, on the third day the mother pelican drew her own blood which, pouring over the dead chicks, brought them back to life. The pelican was interpreted as Christ, Egypt the world; the bird's solitary nature as emblematic of Jesus' unique birth from a virgin. The death meted out to the chicks was the death meted out to pagan beliefs by Christ's words, and their three days' death was terminated by the shedding of blood, which was Christ's blood shed to save mankind.Similar seal matrices with circular dies depicting a 'pelican in her piety' have been recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. See finds: BH-CB1141; IHS-114175; NARC-2F7ED4; SF6283 and SWYOR-343A10.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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