Andreas, 6th-7th centuries. Seal (Lead, 18 mm, 7.79 g, 12 h). Syriac legend "Johannes" St. John the Stylite facing, on top of his column. Rev. Cruciform monogram ANΔPЄOV. Unpublished in the standard references. An intriguing seal with an extremely rare Syriac legend and unique iconography. Good very fine.



The Syriac inscription on the obverse of this intriguing seal identifies the nimbate stylite saint who is seated on top of his pillar as 'Johannes'. A well known stylite of early Byzantium was John of Litharb, a Syriac Orthodox monk and author who died circa 737-738. However, our seal seems to date some decades earlier and the saint depicted may be a different stylite with the same name.