Saint Theophano womb amulet (?), circa 10th century. Amulet (Lead, 35 mm, 9.32 g). Two imperial figures (Leo VI and Theophano?) standing facing, both wearing crowns with pendilia; between them, cross. Rev. Large central globe with five swirls within decorated border imitative of a circular legend divided by a cross above and below. Cf. Gorny and Mosch 212 (2013), 3340 (described as 'Bleiamulett mit der Kaiserin Theodora und ihrer Tochter Thekla'). Cf. Ioli Kalavrezou, Byzantine Women and Their World (Cambridge, MA, 2003), p. 291 and figures 172a and 172b. Cf. Leu Web Auction 17 (2021), 3292. An intriguing Middle Byzantine amulet. Good very fine.


This piece may be related to a small group of lead amulets depicting and invoking the empress Theophano, wife of Leo VI the Wise (886-912). Theophano was revered as a saint, particularly by women seeking intervention in matters of pregnancy and childbirth. Her cult is attested from the middle of the 10th century onwards. Several amulets survive, combining her image with a 'womb symbol' on the reverse - a central head with serpents around, known from several other types of magical amulet. The piece offered by Gorny and Mosch quoted above has two imperial figures on its obverse like our example, and has a clear 'womb symbol' on the reverse.