Herakleios and Herakleios Constantine (ca. 616–ca. 625)
Obverse
The Mother of God standing, wearing a chiton and maphorion, and holding Christ, who is framed by a mandorla, before her. Her right hand is held under Christ’s foot, and her left leg is bent at the knee. A small cross potent at shoulder level at left and right. Wreath border.
Reverse
Bust of Herakleios at left, and smaller bust of Herakleios Constantine at right. Each wears a crown with a cross and a chlamys fastened on the right shoulder with a fibula. Herakleios is shown with a beard of medium length and Herakleios Constantine is beardless. Herakleios wears his hair long at the sides; while the left sidelock hair is combed down and outward, the right one curls inward. A small cross in the field above. A circular inscription beginning at left. Wreath border.
..NNERACL...E.............
[D(omini)] n(ostri) Heracl[ius] et H[era(clius) Const(antinus) p(er)p(etui) aug(usti)]
Obverse
The Mother of God standing, wearing a chiton and maphorion, and holding Christ, who is framed by a mandorla, before her. Her right hand is held under Christ’s foot, and her left leg is bent at the knee. A small cross potent at shoulder level at left and right. Wreath border.
Reverse
Bust of Herakleios at left, and smaller bust of Herakleios Constantine at right. Each wears a crown with a cross and a chlamys fastened on the right shoulder with a fibula. Herakleios is shown with a beard of medium length and Herakleios Constantine is beardless. Herakleios wears his hair long at the sides; while the left sidelock hair is combed down and outward, the right one curls inward. A small cross in the field above. A circular inscription beginning at left. Wreath border.
..NNERACL...E.............
[D(omini)] n(ostri) Heracl[ius] et H[era(clius) Const(antinus) p(er)p(etui) aug(usti)]
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1626 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 26.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 14.10. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Domini nostri Heraclius et Heraclius Constantinus perpetui augusti.
Our lords Herakleios and Herakleios Constantine, eternal Augusti.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 6, Emperors, Patriarchs of Constantinople, Addenda (Open in Zotero)
- Die byzantinischen Bleisiegel in Österreich, Vol. 1, Kaiserhof (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
On the seals dated ca. 616–ca. 625, Herakleios has a longer beard and Herakleios Constantine’s bust is now somewhat larger than on earlier specimens. Dating follows the numismatic evidence.
Seibt (Bleisiegel, 69) has employed the following criteria for classifying and dating seals, from ca. 616–ca. 625, with representations of Herakleios and Herakleios Constantine. (1) ca. 616–ca. 625: the imperial hair style changes, as the ends now curl outward; the Virgin’s right foot supports her weight. (2) ca. 620–25: Herakleios’s beard is longer and thicker.