Marabda (?), 2nd half 7th-early 8th century. Seal (Lead, 25 mm, 11.92 g, 12 h). Cruciform monogram consisting of M, P, B, Δ and A. Rev. Syriac letters corresponding to the Greek on the obverse. Unpublished. A highly interesting bilingual seal. Extremely fine.



The Syriac script is a development from Aramaic and Palmyrene. It has been in use since the 1st century AD and was not only used for Syriac but also for languages like Sogdian. In the medieval Fertile Crescent, it was increasingly displaced by Arabic, yet the Syriac script continues to be used today in various local languages such as Turoyo and Suret. Bilingual seals with Greek and Syriac inscriptions, however, are extremely rare.