BULLA

Incomplete Medieval lead papal bulla of Pope Urban. Bulla were used to seal official documents of the papacy which came to be called bulls after the seal. In the medieval period bull was only a popular term used almost promiscuously for all kinds of instruments which issued from the papal chancery, including indulgences, although it now has a more strict definition. The obverse depicts the busts of St Peter and St Paul each within an inverted pear shaped compartment defined by pellets. Only St Peter, on the right remains complete on this piece, his beard and hair are shown to be curly by the use of pellets. There is a cross pattee between the busts. At the top of the bulla in the centre are the letters '[SPA]SPE', abbreviations for St Paul and St Peter. The reverse of the bulla has the following letters over three lines. UR[B]/AN[VS]/PP[...] The PP means 'pastor pastorum', translated as 'shepherd of the shepherds'. The number of the pope would follow the PP and is missing on this bulla. Both obverse and reverse faces have a pelleted perimeter. Bulla of Popes Urban III (1185-7), IV (1216-64), V (1362-70) and VI (1378-89) have been found in Britain and it is not possible to distinguish which this is. The seal has broken along the hole for the attachment cord which ran from top to bottom through the centre of the seal. It is 36.7mm long, 21.3mm wide, 4.9mm thick and weighs 21.51 grams.