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Description: | A medieval lead papal bulla of Pope Gregory XI, whose papacy lasted from 1370 to 1378. It is rather worn and dented, with some of the reverse being particularly difficult to read. The obverse is now rather concave (through damage), and possibly this has helped protect its design. A green algae covers much of the obverse.The obverse depicts the faces of St Peter and St Paul below the inscription SPASPE (SPA = Sanctus Paulus, SPE = Sanctus Petrus), all of which are surrounded by a beaded border, flanking the outside edge of the bulla. St. Paul is seen on the left looking right, with a long pointed beard of curving vertical ribs and hair comprising short vertical ribs. St. Peter is on the right facing left, with a rounded face, a short pellet-formed beard and [pellet-formed] hair. Each is within a curving beaded border, joined to the main at either end. Between is a cross extending on a vertical rib, presumably representing a crozier.The reverse bears the legend [G]RE. // [G]ORIVS //.PP.XI. where the '.' is represented by a six-petalled rosette , all within a beaded border. There is an omega above the 'PP', which is an abbreviation of pastor pastorum - meaning shepherd of the shepherds.To the reverse the holes for the attachment chords and edge surrounding them are badly damaged. The oval-shaped hole at 12 o'clock measures 6.5x3.7mm while the hole at 6 o'clock measures 7.5x3.1mm.The bulla measures 39.5x38.7mm in 'diameter', 7.4mm in thickness at the edges (expanding to 8.1mm at the damaged area at 12 o'clock on the reverse), and weighs 58.35g.Papal bullae were used as seals on official papal documents sent out from Rome (during the schism, Avignon) as a means of authentication. Tim Pestell has stated on other bulla records: "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". They may have also had a secondary use as an amulet.Pope Gregory XI was born Pierre Roger de Beaufort around 1330 in the Limousin region of France. He was the nephew of Pope Clement VI and was the seventh and last of the Avignon popes, returning to Rome in 1377.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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