A RECENTLY FOUND BULGARIAN RULER SEAL FROM PLISKA

Abstract

During the regular archeological excavations of site 41 in the Outer City of Pliska in the summer of 2021, a fragment of a lead seal was discovered, which turned out to be the first sphragistic monument of this archeological site. Obv.: In center, part of the facing bust of Christ within equal-armed cross behind head. Inscription between two borders of dots: : . . . . . . . . . . . . ΑΡXΟΝΤΑΒΟ. . . . . . . (Obr. 2а) Rev.: Heavily damaged bust of the Mother of God in the face. Her hands are placed in front of her breast in a praying posture. Her left hand is clearly visible. Around the image part of a circular inscription: . . . . . ΗΘΗΪωA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Obr. 2b). The preserved part of the inscriptions and the serious iconographic and epigraphic proximity of the molybdobull with the seals of "Michael Archon of Bulgaria" and "Simeon Archon of Bulgaria" give grounds to restore the circular inscriptions in the form: Obv.: [+ ×(ñéóô)S or + Ê(ýñé)å âïÞèç <ЙщЬнïх] Fñ÷ïíôá Âï[õëãáñßáò] Translation: “Christ or My God, aid John, archon of Bulgaria” Rev.: [+ È(åïôü)êå âï]Þèç <ЙщЬ[нïх Fñ÷ïнôá Âïхëãáñßáò] Translation: “O Mother of God, aid John, archon of Bulgaria” The iconographic and paleographic data of the fragmented press give grounds for it to be dated with a great deal of certainly in the second half of the ninth century.