Harpokras, son of Herakleios, circa 350-450. Seal (Lead, 18 mm, 6.07 g, 12 h). APΠIKPAC Draped bust of Harpokras to right. Rev. HPAKΛIOV Cross. Unpublished in the standard references. A beautiful early Christian seal with a named portrait. Good very fine.


Especially in the second half of the 4th century, we find a number of Roman seals bearing portraits of important Romans, sometimes with their names in the legend. Our seal has two names: the name Harpokras, in a circular legend around the portrait, uses the nominative, while the name Herakleios on the reverse, paired with a cross, appears in the genitive. This most likely indicates that Harpokras mentions his patronym on his seal. Three individuals named Harpokras are known from the 5th century (PLRE II p. 528), but there is not enough additional information to tie any of them to our seal.