Hi Molinari,
I just
had a
good time researching your proposal. Here's what I find: the phrase 'Theotoke beothei' was used throughout the whole of
Byzantine history, on all kinds of objects, not just
seals. It is predominantly encountered paired with images of the Virgin,
as is to be expected. When other saints are depicted, mostly in Middle-Byzantine times, usually they themselves are invoked (Nikolae boethei for example with Nikolaos), or
Christ (Kyrie boethei). It is also encountered on many aniconographic
seals that came into fashion in the first iconoclastic period in the 8th century, paired with 'TW CW DULW' (comprising the invocation 'Theotokos aid your servant') in the fields and an
inscription naming the owner on the
reverse (see photo below as example). In the early centuries you can find 'Theotoke boethei' on
seals depicting other saints apart from the virgin, like for example Anastasia (Zacos/Veglery 1240), John the Baptist (Z/V 1248),
Peter and Paul (Z/V 1263), a
military saint (Z/V 1288). But these are
rare, because iconography other than the Virgin is
rare during early
Byzantine times.
Arguing
vice versa, the
eagle is better explained as a remnant of the pagan
Roman eagle. That is indicated by the fact that the first iconoclastic period pretty much dealt a death blow to the
eagle as an iconographic feature on
Byzantine seals. If the
eagle was assigned a
christian or spiritual significance, it was not so much associated with the Virgin but with
Christ. It is true that virtually all
seals with eagles and an invocation use 'Theotoke beothei' (exception 'Christe boethei' Z/V 684A), but that is better explained by convention, rather than to any special connection to the
eagle: invocations of
Christ are known in the 7th century, but only rarely. They become much more common in the 8th century, when
eagle seals have disappeared out of fashion.
Lastly, it is noteworthy that these
seals with eagles seem to be confined to state officials. I know no
seals with an
eagle belonging to a member of the clergy. I think this is another indication that the device is to interpreted as a continuation of the
Roman eagle, rather than a symbol associated with the Virgin. If the latter were the case, surely some
bishop would have used it.
Regards
Gert
---
photo: seal of Aaron, “the sinner”, notarios.
Byzantine lead seal 8th century AD, from my own
collection. It has the invocation 'Theotokos aid your servant' on the
obv. The
reverse identifies the owner as Aaron, and because he styles himself 'the sinner', hamartolos, he is probably a member of the clergy.
