Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: SOM-B5A674
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A medieval lead papal bulla of Pope Urban VI (AD 1378-1389). The object is sub-circular, with small truncations at the top and bottom at the points at which the cord would have travelled through an internal recess. One face bears the inscription '. URB/ANUS ./. PP . VI (omega above the 'P's; rounded 'U's) ' in three lines, within a pelleted border. There are bird's heads 'erased' stops around the Pope's name around the 'PP'. A pair of further eagles are depicted 'displayed' below the inscription. The 'PP' stands for 'Pastor Pastorum', translated as 'shepherd of the shepherds'.
The other face bears the conventional stamped busts of Saints Peter and Paul both within drop-shaped pelleted borders, possibly haloes. On the left, St Paul's beard is portrayed as being long, straight and pointed, whilst his hair is straight and swept back. On the right, Peter looks left with his more rounded hair and beard both formed of pellets. Between the two is a crozier. Above is the inscription: 'SPA SPE' (abbreviations for St Paul and St Peter).
The bulla has been twisted slightly and appears to have received two recent strikes, but otherwise survives well. A parallel can be found illustrated in Egan (2001, 88, 90; ref. 7). Egan (ibid., 88) quotes other examples and notes that the birds refer to the arms of the family of Bartolomeo Prignano, to which this Pope belonged.
Notes:
The papal bulla is a formal seal of office used by the Popes to stamp and authenticate documents produced by the papal curia. Tim Pestell has commented: "Papal bulls came as two basic types, according to the contents of the document: Tituli, or "Letters of Grace", essentially granted or confirmed rights, conferred benefices or promulgated statutes. They generally had their lead bullae attached with cords of silk. Mandamenta, or "Letters of Justice" were mandates that conveyed papal orders, prohibitions or injunctions, and had their bullae attached by hemp threads".
This is a find of note and has been designated: County / local importance
Class:
Urban VI
Inscription:
.URB/ANUS./.PP.VI// SPA SPE
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Exactly AD 1378
Date to: Exactly AD 1389
Quantity: 1
Length: 38.6 mm
Width: 36.8 mm
Thickness: 6.8 mm
Weight: 53.99 g
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 1st September 2013 - Monday 30th September 2013
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Other reference: SCC receipt 22421
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Egan, G. | 2001 | Papal Bullae | Salisbury | Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum | 88, 90 | 7 |