Nomos 24

BYZANTINE SEALS. Daniel Liberos, sebastos, circa 13th century. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 38 mm, 46.35 g, 12 h), a seal possibly of a member of the imperial court. O/ΠP/OΦI/TH/C - Δ/A/NI/HΛ The Prophet Daniel standing facing, nimbate and raising both hands in prayer; to left and right, lion. Rev. + / [K]PITHC ΔA/[NI]HΛ KAI ΓP/[A]ΦωN NYN Π/[POC]TATHC TEΛEI/[CE]BACTOY ΛIBEPOY/ΠPAΞEIC KPI/NΩN (most Ns retrograde and with a number of ligatures in the legend) = Oh, Judge Daniel, now guardian even of writings, give judgment and execute the deeds of the revered Liberos in eight lines, within simple dotted border. DO BZS.1951.31.5.2. Laurent, Orghidan 312. Laurent, Vatican 130. Wassiliou-Seibt, Corpus I, 1150. Pressed from the same bulloterion as the piece once in the Hecht collection, Triton XI, 2008, 1212. A very attractive, sharply "struck" example, nicely toned. Ancient flan fault on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the Strategos Collection, ex Gemini XIII, 6 April 2017, 264 and H. J. Berk BBS 198, 7 July 2016, 364 .

In Christian iconography this is the typical way Daniel is shown, praying to God between two lions in their den. Old Testament depictions on Byzantine seals are quite scarce and the seal of Liberos stands out by being the largest and most beautiful. A more intriguing seal with Daniel shows him with the three youths in the Fiery Furnace: DO BZS.1958.106.1841.