Rights Holder: I. Szymanski
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SEAL MATRIX
Unique ID: IHS-015FD2
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Notes:
The matrix's central design is upside-down in relation to its legend; the six-pointed star normally found at the top of a seal is, in fact, below St John's feet. Also displays indifferent spelling; the legend should read Ecce agnus Dei, but both agnus and Dei appear to have an excess letter in them, a feature also found on the very similar St Catherine matrix (IHS-015794) The figures from the two matrices are almost identical in shape, being remarkably similar in pose. It is worth observing that the St Catherine matrix also displays a similar excess of letters, for its legend reads SAVNCTA CATERINA rather than the correct SANCTA. St John the Baptist: an enormously popular saint in the mediaeval period. Born to elderly parents his mother, Elizabeth, was the cousin of Mary, Jesus' mother. John's mission was to prepare the way for Jesus; spent much of his early life in the desert (hence the usual depiction of him in a camel skin) living the life of a hermit and surviving on locusts and wild honey. He then moved about preaching, urging men to renounce their sins, for "the kingdom of heaven was at hand". John baptized individuals in the river Jordan; amongst them Jesus himself. His words on seeing Jesus were, "Ecce agnus Dei", hence the phrase's origin and association with John. The authorities considered him a madman, one of numerous "inspired" individuals in the area. His death resulted, from his criticism of Herod Antipas' second wife, Herodias, who was originally the wife of Herod's half-brother, Philip. John denounced this as adultery; consequently, he was imprisoned and later killed at Herodias' instigation; the gospels suggest that Herod himself had no great antipathy towards him. Many churches were dedicated to John the Baptist, and many boys named in his honour. He was patron of monks and clerics.
Inscription:
*ECCE A_GNVS D_EI (Latin, John:1:29: Behold, the Lamb of God).
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Returned to finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Date from: AD 1300
Date to: AD 1400
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 23 mm
Width: 17 mm
Weight: 10.6 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 1st January 2002
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: Originally York Sealmat 175
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber (European Region)County or Unitary authority: North Yorkshire (County)
District: York (Unitary Authority)
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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