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 within an oval mandorla, before her. Her left leg seems to be bent at the knee. A cross potent at left and right. Border of dots.
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 and curled. In the field above a small cross. No epigraphy visible. Border of dots.
Obverse
The Mother of God standing, wearing a chiton and maphorion, and holding Christ, who is framed within an oval mandorla, before her. Her left leg seems to be bent at the knee. A cross potent at left and right. Border of dots.
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 and curled. In the field above a small cross. No epigraphy visible. Border of dots.
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.517 (formerly DO 58.106.517) |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 14.13. |
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.