Messina (Sicily) Lead seal of Roger II November 1144

    Seal affixed to a deed of Roger II concerning privileges granted to a certain Ursus described as the "ministerium" of St Mary's Church of Macla. The lead seal is a direct descendant of the bulls in use in the Eastern Empire (Byzantium) and at the pontifical chancellery: a cast metal blank is struck on both sides after cooling. It bears a bilingual legend in Latin and Greek. On the obverse, around a representation of Christ in Majesty, we read in Latin "Roger, by the grace of God, king of Sicily, of Calabria and of Puglia"; on the reverse, in Greek, the inscription, part of which is missing, says "Roger, powerful and pious king". The king is depicted standing bearing the insignia of power, in the manner of the Byzantine emperors. The deed is dated Messina, 3 November 1144.

Dimensions of the object
Diameter 3.5 cm

Bibliography
- "L'età normanna e sveva in Sicilia", catalogo della mostra a Palazzo dei Normanni a Palermo, organizzata dall'Assemblea Regionale Siciliana, Palermo, 1994.

Location
Monreale, Tabularium of the Cathedral

Photography
G. Cappellani