The representation of the eagle on lead seals and its provenance
Abstract
The representation on the eagle with its wings opened and towards the sky on sceptres is fairly common for a large number of lead seals that are dated between the 6th and the 8th century. The consultation of the sources, pictorial, archaeological and historical connects the eagle with the consular office. The depictions of birds, an iconographic subject that was linked with special connotations from Antiquity to the Early Byzantine period attest to the survival of an old Roman emblem. The representation of the eagle retained its semiotics as a symbol of divine will and imperial power during the Early Byzantine period.
Article Details
- How to Cite
-
ΚΟΛΤΣΙΔΑ-ΜΑΚΡΗ Ι. (2011). The representation of the eagle on lead seals and its provenance. Deltion of the Christian Archaeological Society, 24, 411–416. https://doi.org/10.12681/dchae.399
- Section
- Articles
The copyright for articles in the journal Deltion of the Christian Archaeological Society (henceforth Deltion) is retained by the author(s), with first publication rights granted to the journal and to EIE/ EKT the right to store and communicate these articles to the public via its information infrastructures. By virtue of their appearance in this journal, articles are free to use with proper attribution for non-commercial uses under a ShareAlike obligation. The Christian Archaeological Society and EIE/EKT retain the worldwide right to reproduce, display, distribute, and use articles published in the Deltion in all formats and media, either separately or as part of collective works for the full term of copyright. This includes but is not limited to the right to publish articles in an issue of the Journal, copy and distribute individual reprints of the articles, authorize reproduction of articles in their entirety in another publication of the Christian Archaeological Society, and authorize reproduction and distribution of articles or abstracts thereof by means of computerized retrieval systems.