Rights Holder: York Museums Trust
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: YORYM-6D894A
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A lead papal bulla of Pope Innocent III dating to the medieval period. Pope Innocent III reigned from 8 January 1198 to his death in 1216.
The obverse of the bulla is very worn and is stamped with the faces of the saints Peter and Paul within a border of raised pellets. Above the heads within the border, the saints' abbreviations are visible with 'SPA' for St. Paul to the left and 'SPE' for St. Peter to the right. The reverse is stamped with INNO//CENTIVS//.PP : III. also within a border of raised pellets. The 'PP' stands for 'pastor pastorum' which translates as 'shepherd of the shepherds'.
The bulla is pierced at 3 o'clock on the obverse and is bent slightly along the middle.
The metal is a mid-brown/grey colour and is very worn. The bulla is 38mm in diameter, 3.9mm thick and weighs 24.8g.
Papal Bulla such as this acted as seals on official Papal documents to authenticate their provenance and authority.
Class:
Innocent III
Evidence of reuse: pierced
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1198
Date to: Circa AD 1216
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 3.9 mm
Weight: 34.8 g
Diameter: 38 mm
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference: YMT : E04446
4 Figure: SE9785
Four figure Latitude: 54.25149637
Four figure longitude: -0.51270675
1:25K map: SE9785
1:10K map: SE98NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.