Paulos, 7th-8th centuries. Seal (Lead, 26 mm, 13.61 g, 12 h). +[Θ]ЄO[TOK]Є CⲰZЄ ΠAVΛON ('Mother of God, save Paul') Nimbate bust of the Mother of God facing, holding medallion of Christ on her chest. Rev. The martyrdom of Saint Thekla: nimbate female figure standing facing, raising both hands in prayer; to left and right, wild beasts attacking. Unpublished in the standard references. A beautiful and well-designed early Byzantine seal of the finest style of the period. Very fine.


The reverse of this seal shows the attempted execution of Saint Thekla in Antioch, where she was thrown in the arena after she spurned the advances of a local nobleman. First, a lioness was unleashed upon her, but the animal did not harm the saint, instead sitting tamely at her feet. A bear was then released, but the lioness killed it in defence of the woman. Next, a lion was sent in, and again the lioness fought off the attacker, losing her own life in the process. Frustrated, the authorities sent in all wild animals on hand, but Thekla's prayers saw her safe from danger, eventually being released as it became apparent she could not be harmed. She lived a long and virtuous life afterwards, peacefully dying in her sleep at the age of ninety, according to legend.