Praehistorische Zeitschrift 2023; aop
Abhandlung
Ștefan Honcu*
An imperial seal discovered at Argamum,
Small Gate Sector (Scythia Minor)
https://doi.org/10.1515/pz-2023-2032
Zusammenfassung: Bei einer im Jahr 2019 durchgeführten
archäologischen Kampagne wurde in Argamum, Sektor
Kleines Tor, ein kaiserliches Bleisiegel gefunden. Auf der
Vorderseite des Siegels ist ein frontal dargestelltes Kai-
sergesicht mit Bart, Zepter auf der linken Schulter und
zwei runden Fibeln auf beiden Schultern eingeprägt. Auf
der kreisförmig angeordneten und teilweise erhaltenen
Legende ist zu lesen: Dominus Noster Theodosivs Avgus-
tus. Kaiserliche Siegel mit dem Bildnis von Kaiser Theodo-
sius II. Wurden bisher auf dem Gebiet der Provinz Scythia
Minor nicht entdeckt. Das Bleisiegel könnte in die letzten
zwei Jahrzehnte der Herrschaft des Kaisers Theodosius II.
datiert werden.
Schlüsselworte: Argamum, Kleiner Torsektor, Kaisersiegel,
Theodosius II, Spätantike
Abstract: In the archaeological campaign carried out in
2019, at Argamum, Small Gate sector, an imperial lead seal
was found. On the obverse of the seal is stamped the face of
an emperor, frontally depicted, with a beard, scepter on the
left shoulder and two round fibulas placed on both shoul-
ders. On the legend, arranged in a circle and partially pre-
served, we can read: Dominus Noster Theodosivs Avgustus.
Imperial seals stamped with the effigy of Emperor Theodo-
sius II have not been discovered until now in the territory of
the province of Scythia Minor. The lead seal could be dated
in the last two decade of the reign of the emperor Theodo-
sius II.
Keywords: Argamum, Small Gate sector, imperial seal, The-
odosius II, Late Antiquity
Rezumat: În campania arheologică desfășurată în 2019,
la Argamum, sectorul Poarta Mică, a fost găsit un sigiliu
imperial de plumb. Pe aversul sigiliului este ștampilat
chipul unui împărat, înfățișat frontal, cu barbă, sceptru
*Corresponding author: Dr. Ștefan Honcu, Romanian Academy, Iași
branch, Institute of Archaeology, Codrescu no. 6 street, Pavilion H.
E-Mail: stefanhoncu@yahoo.com
pe umărul stâng și două fibule rotunde așezate pe ambii
umeri. Pe legendă, dispusă circular se păstrată parțial, se
poate citi: Dominus Noster Theodosivs Avgustus. Sigiliile
imperiale ștampilate cu efigia împăratului Teodosie al II-lea
nu au fost descoperite până acum pe teritoriul provinciei
Scythia Minor. Sigiliul de plumb ar putea fi datat în ultimele
două decenii ale domniei împăratului Teodosie al II-lea.
Cuvinte cheie: Argamum, Sector Poarta Mică, sigiliu
imperial, Theodosius II, Antichitatea târzie
Introduction
The fortification of Argamum is located at Cape Dolojman,
on a rocky promontory on the shores of Lake Razelm.
In ancient times the settlement had direct access to the
Black Sea, because the current lagoon was a former golf.
The nearest modern settlement is the locality of Jurilovca,
which is about eight kilometres west. The oldest evidences
of habitation found in the site’s perimeter are dated in
the first Iron Age. The urban settlement was founded by
Greek colonists from Miletus, the toponym associated with
it being Orgame1, which in Roman times is Latinised into
Argamum2. The actual size of Argamum cannot be exactly
ascertained, as some sizable portions of its habitable area
are suspected to have fallen into the sea (today’s Razelm
Lake). A considerable area fortified with earthen wall and
ditch stretches outside the stone wall and encompasses the
entire promontory. The fortress was, together with the for-
tification on the island of “Bisericuta”, an important point
for the maritime limes of the Black Sea. This importance
is also proved by the consolidation of the defensive system
by doubling the defensive system from the West with two
ditches and earthen walls3.
During archaeological campaign carried out in
Argamum (Fig. 1), Small Gate Sector (Fig. 3), in 2019, several
1 Mănucu-Adameșteanu 1992.
2 Mănucu-Adameșteanu 2001, 11.
3 Mănucu-Adameșteanu 2001, 34.