Antiquities Discussion Forums > Seals and Tesserae
Byzantine Lead Seal AKAKIOS from Caesarea Maritima
v-drome:
Hi, all. I wanted to show this Byzantine seal. It is not so special, but it is rare that I am able to make a fairly certain ID plus find an additional link which I think is pretty cool. Dumbarton Oaks online collection had a slightly similar one, also with an eagle on the obverse, that helped me figure it out. When I searched the name I then found a silver intaglio ring with an identical monogram at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland (see reversed image, below). Additional information or corrections are welcome.
Regards, Jimi
BCC LS32 Byzantine Lead Seal
Caesarea Maritima
Mid 6th - Early 7th Century CE
Obv: Eagle standing facing, head right, wings
spread, within wreath. Rev: Block monogram with
Greek letters: I, A, O, Y, K "Akakios", a personal
name meaning "innocent, not evil".
20 x 16 x 2.25mm. 4.42gm. Axis:0
cf. Dumbarton Oaks online BZS.1947.2.813
For a signet ring with identical monogram (mis-
identified as "MARK"), see The Walters Art
Museum, Baltimore, Acc. No. 57.2104
Surface find Caesarea Maritima, 1970's
Photograph of ring and corrected reading from Brad Hostetler, "Reading and Displaying Monograms on Byzantine Signet Rings", The Journal of the Walters Art Museum, Volume 75, 2021.
Gert:
Yes, very nice!
mauseus:
Hi,
In terms of the name there's obviously a link to akakia, the roll of fabric containing dust as a reminder of mortality to the ruler.
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Akakia
Regards,
Mauseus
v-drome:
Thank you Gert, and Mauseus for the information. I will be adding the rest of my seals to my gallery in the coming days. I may need some help with a couple of really strange ones!
Best regards, Jimi
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=lastup&cat=-5369
Joe Sermarini:
Nice. You must have enjoyed the research. Like finding treasure!
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