The Religious Figural Imagery of Byzantine Lead Seals II: Studies on Images of the Saints and on Personal Piety

This volume contains ground-breaking studies that analyze the religious figural imagery of Byzantine lead seals from the 6th to the 15th century, using tables, charts, and graphs to explore iconographic trends and changing popularity of saintly figures. The seals also provide information about the social use of sacred imagery in Byzantine culture, including the civil, ecclesiastical, and military administrations. Other studies focus on rare or previously unknown sacred images, demonstrating the value of the iconography of Byzantine lead seals for Byzantine studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The articles republished in this volume are groundbreaking studies that employ a vast corpus of religious figural imagery found on Byzantine lead seals, spanning from the 6th to the 15th century. Several of these studies present tables, charts, and graphs to analyze iconographic trends and changing popularity of saintly figures over time. Moreover, as many of these seals bear inscriptions that include the names, titles, or offices of their owners, information often not provided for the patrons of sacred images in other media, these diminutive objects offer a unique opportunity to investigate the social use of sacred imagery across various sectors of Byzantine culture: the civil, ecclesiastical, and military administrations.

The religious figural imagery of the lead seals, coupled with their owners' identifying inscriptions, provides a valuable means of exploring both the broader visual piety of the Byzantine world and the intimate realm of their owners' personal devotions. In addition to these analytical articles, the volume also includes studies dedicated to rare or previously unknown sacred images that showcase the significance of Byzantine lead seals in Byzantine studies as a whole.

A companion volume to this one focuses specifically on the image of Christ, primarily found on imperial seals, various images of the Virgin, and narrative or Christological scenes. Together, these volumes provide a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the rich and diverse religious imagery of the Byzantine era.

Weight: 650g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032336718