Anonymous, circa 10th century. Token (Lead, 51 mm, 39.81 g), "Eulogia" of St. Symeon Stylites the Younger. +EVΛOΓIA TOV AΓIOV CHMEONOC TOV ΘAVMATOVPΓOV AMHN ("Blessing of Saint Symeon the Miracle Worker, amen") Nimbate half-length bust of St. Symeon the Younger, wearing monastic hood and holding book of Gospels, seated on column, flanked by two flying angels; to left, flight of stairs; below, on the left side of the column, Symeon’s mother St. Martha nimbate, standing right; on the right side of the column, Symeon’s disciple Konon nimbate, standing left, both with their hands raised in gesture of supplication; to left and right of Martha, H / A/ΓI/A – M/A/P/ΘA (“Saint Martha”); to left of Konon, MA/ΘH/[TIC] (“disciple”).
Rev. Non-figurative decoration and a central dot. Cf. Gary Vikan: Art, Medicine, and Magic in Early Byzantium, in: DO Papers 38, pp. 65-86, fig 7. A highly interesting token blessing associated to Byzantine pilgrimage. Very fine.
From a European collection, formed before 2005.
As their name suggests, "eulogia" tokens were material blessings that pilgrims could take home with them after they visited a holy site or a stylite saint, such as Saint Symeon the Younger, who reportedly lived on top of a pillar for 68 years. Originally made out of terracotta, later eulogia tokens such as ours were often produced in lead
