Ancient Greek and Roman Library Papyrus Seals and Bullae
Sometime in the 3rd century AD, an important Greek and Roman library was burned to the ground in the Holy Land. Hundreds--if not thousands--of papyrus scrolls were torched by invading barbarians, rival Jewish sects, or invading armies from the East. These scrolls had been tucked away in walls of scroll-nooks lining the walls of this precious library, each papyrus sealed with a blob of clay, marked with the seal of the owner's (or author's) signet ring. The intense heat from the inferno actually fired the clay--which otherwise would have been moist and pliable, and never would have survived--and preserved them in the ashes of the library for 2,000 years. Recent excavations unearthed this incredible find, and with it, images of Greek and Roman times. Gods and goddesses, emperors and animals, intricately carved faces, and simple plebian art, sometimes also bearing the fingerprints of the last people to trouch these balls of clay thousands of years ago. A few of these have penciled ID marks on the backs made during the excavation.
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Bust of Roman lady or goddess right. 19 mm with nice burned patin and fingerprints around edges! #19060: $80
Ancient Rome, Antonine period, 2nd century AD. Radiate-crowned male head right, likely an emperor. Nice papyrus impression, chipped in antiquity. 22 mm. #19009: $80
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Nice terracotta bulla depicting Zeus seated left. Reddish tone with fingerprints on edge. 20 mm. #19110: $85

Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Nice terracotta bulla showing the emperor on left facing a standing goddess. Great fingerprints! 16 mm. #19021: $145 SOLD
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Nice terracotta bulla depicting a goddess enthroned rt, hand held out, holding patera. 18 mm, nice fingerprints! #8064: $135
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Nice terracotta bulla with two goddesses. 20 mm. Fingerprints on edge! #19077: $125
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Bust of Herakles facing right, weating Nemean lion-skin. 21 mm with nice reddish tone. #19034: $50
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Depicts a bearded male bust right. Clear detail, nice fingerprints on edges! 19 mm. #19140: $110 SOLD
Ancient Rome, Antonine period, 2nd century AD. Facing male busts, on right may be emperor Commodus. Nice burned patina. 20 mm. #19091: $150
Ancient Rome, c. 1st century AD. Great terracotta bulla depicting the bust of Serapis, bearded, with diadem and modius on head. Fingerprints on edge! 20 mm. #19157: $175
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Nice terracotta bulla depicting a bearded male bust rt. wearing a tall hat or tiara. Great fingerprints in clay. 19 mm. #19219: $125
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Nice terracotta bulla with a laureate youthful male head left. 17 mm. #19193: $125
Ancient Rome, c. 1st century AD. Great bulla depicting a female bust . Nice red tone, beautiful features! 15 mm. #19260: $125
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Bust of Athena in helmet facing right! A rare type. Fingerprints on edges. 20 mm. #19233: $90

Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Winged Victory standing right, arms upraised. Large 21 mm with nice reddish tone and some fingerprints on edges. #19206: $95

Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Terracotta bulla depicting a bearded male bust rt., wearing shallow cap. 22 mm. #19278: $110
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Terracotta bulla depicting a pig or boar walking rt., within oak wreath. Great finger print on back! 14 mm. #19287: $110 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Terracotta bulla depicting a male bust rt., weating laurel and ratiant crown. Sharp detail! 19 mm. #19299: $125
Ancient Rome, c. 1st century AD. Excellent bulla depicting standing winged Victory holding flower in outstretched hand. Lovely fingerprint on back. 13 mm. #19314: $150
Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Large terracotta bulla depicting a seated goddess holding flower. Fingerprint on edge. 22 mm. #19333: $125
Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Nice terracotta bulla with the bust of a lady facing right. Interesting shape. 15 mm. #19326: $110
Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Excellent bulla depicting a standing god, probably Mars, holding bow-case, leaning on column. 16 mm. Sharp detail! Nice red color. #19347: $199 SOLD
Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Interesting terracotta bulla depicting a person riding an ostrich or other large bird! Some fingerprints on edge. Very unusual! 17 mm. #19369: $145
Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Terracotta bulla depicting the bust of a lady right, wearing robes and hair-dress. Fingerprints on edge. 17 mm. #19356: $125
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Terracotta bulla with a male bust facing left. May be Zeus. Nice fingerprints on edge. 14 mm. #19382: $85
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Nice terracotta bulla depicting a male head left. Very deep detail including beard, hair and cap. 20 mm. #19391: $125
Ancient Rome, Antonine period. 1st-2nd Century AD. Bearded bust right, possibly of emperor Antoninus Pius? sold?

SOLD:
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Seated figure, likely a god or emperor, being attended-to by servant, woman standing behind him. 20 mm. #0633: $150 SOLD
Ancient Roman Empire, 1st-2nd century AD. Depicts a standing goddess holding a torch. Interesting impressions on back from the original strings from the papyrus! 19 mm diameter. #0615: $80 SOLD
Ancient Rome, Antonine period. 1st-2nd Century AD. Bust of a lady right, hair in claccic style. Fingerprints of maker around edges. 19 mm. #122: $65 SOLD
Ancient Rome, Antonine period. 1st-2nd Century AD. Bearded bust right, possibly of emperor Antoninus Pius? 19 mm. #071: $90 SOLD
Ancient Rome. 1st-2nd Century AD. Lion pouncing right. 15 mm. #lion044: $65 SOLD
Ancient Rome. 1st-2nd Century AD. Horse grazing right. 15 mm diameter. #horse01: $65 SOLD
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Winged Victory / Nike left. Nice fingerprint on back! 13 mm. #127: $65 SOLD
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Winged Victory / Nike advancing right. 13 mm. #120: $50 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Male bust left, wearing Greek cap. Great piece. 19 mm. #121: $85 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC.
Forepart of a horse rt. 19 mm diameter.
#781: $85 SOLD
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd Century AD. Wonderful seal depicting a swimming fish. Amazing finger-print of the maker on the back! 15 mm. #661: $85 SOLD
Ancient Rome. 1st-2nd Century AD. Forepart of a boar or pig right. 21 mm. #pig401: $75 SOLD
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Mythological beast walking left. Great fingerprint on back! 16 mm. #0723: $55 SOLD
Ancient Greece. 2nd-1st Century BC. Long-haired male head right. Great fingerprint on back!!! 16 mm. #0714: $85 SOLD
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Mars, god of War, with spear and shield. Large piece! 22 mm. #0690: $155 SOLD
Ancient Rome, Antonine period. 1st-2nd Century AD. Bearded bust right, possibly of emperor Antoninus Pius? 16 mm. #664: $75 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC/AD. Seated figure of Zeus, enthroned rt (sold)
Ancient Rome. 1st-2nd Century AD. Figure of a god holding divine implements. (sold)
Hellenistic Greece. 3rd-2nd century BC. Male head L, with beard and diadem. (sold)
Ancient Rome. 1st-2nd Century AD. Woman's bust facing right. Possibly royalty from the Severan line. (sold)
Ancient Rome. 1st Century AD.
Emperor standing face-to-face with goddess, who holds the hem of her skirt., holding wreath. (sold)
Ancient Rome. 1st-2nd Century AD. Portrait of an elite male rt., wearing cap. (sold)
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC / AD. Two gods standing, facing. Interesting type. (sold)
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC/AD. Seated figure of Zeus, enthroned rt. (sold)
Ancient Rome, Antonine period. 1st-2nd Century AD. Bearded bust right, possibly of emperor Antoninus Pius? (sold)
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Pegasus leaping right! (sold)
Ancient Rome. 1st-2nd Century AD. Male bust right. Excellent finger-print of the maker on back! (sold)
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Appears to be a lion and crocodile right. Excellent finger-print of maker! (sold)
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Bust of Herakles facing left, weating Nemean lion-skin. (sold)
Ancient Rome, Augustan period, eearly 1st century AD. Male bust right, possibly of emperor Augustus? (sold)
Tyche of Antioch (sold)
Tyche of Antioch (sold)
Tyche of Antioch (sold)
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Bust of Herakles right, wearing Nemean lion-skin. Great thumb-print of the maker on back! 19 mm. #125: $75 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 2nd-1st Century BC. Head of Athena right, wearing Athenian helmet. Fingerprints around edges! 20 mm. #7547: $55 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. c. 2nd-1st Century BC. Bust of Herakles rt, clad in Nemean lion-skin headdress! Fingerprints on back. Image much clearer than photo shows. 15 mm. #0731: $125 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Goddes Athena holding winged Victory and shield. Greek letters below. Great fingerprints on the edges! 20 mm tall. #7499: $175 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Tyche of Antioch, seated left upon rock. River god Orontes swims below. Nice! 20 mm. #118: $125 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 2nd-1st Century BC. Fantastic bulla depicting a veiled goddess head right. Classic almost Archaic Greek style. A masterpiece! 20 mm. #0919: $125 SOLD
Ancient Rome, Severan period, c. 200-225 AD. Great laureate bust of emperor left (poss. Septimius Severus), in armor with sceptre. 17 mm tall. #8058: $85 SOLD
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Bust of Roman goddess right. 17 mm with nice red patina. #0677: $65 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Cow or bull walking right. 20 mm tall. #070: $40 SOLD
Ancient Rome, Antonine period, 1st-2nd century AD. Bearded male bust right. Nice crisp impression, fingerprints around edges! 18 mm tall. #7554: $75 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Stylized male bust right. Interesting style. 20 mm. #0599: $55 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. c. 1st Century BC.
Forepart of a horse facing right, Greek letters above and to side. Nice! 16 mm.
#129: $65 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 2nd-1st Century BC. Laureate male head right, Greek letter "Pi" below. Great fingerprints from the maker in the clay! 17 mm. #7565: $95 SOLD
Ancient Rome, mid-1st century AD. Depicts a male head left, possibly a portrait of emperor Vespasian or Titus. Faint but visible. 20 mm tall. #7526: $45 SOLD
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Male head right. Some original fingerprint-ridges on edge. 20 mm. #0640: $50 SOLD
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Goddess Fortuna holding cornucopia, reaching out to figure rt. 19 mm. #0626: $95 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC / AD. Figure of a soldier standing, slightly reclining with one arm out. Neat piece! 21 mm. #660: $70 SOLD
Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Woman's bust facing left, her hair tied up in classic Roman ladies' style. Large piece at 23 mm. #0580: $75 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Bearded male head left, with thick cap. 19 mm. #0707: $55 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 2nd-1st Century BC. Zeus enthroned left, holding winged Victory! Original fingerprints in the clay. 20 mm. #0572: $95 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Serpent emerging from a cista. Surrounded by Greek script. A very interesting piece. 13 mm. #126: $45 SOLD
Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC.
Forepart of a horse facing right, Greek letters above and to side. 22 mm high. #114: $85 SOLD

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Related topics: ancient Roman library papyrus, ancient Greek library artifacts, Greco-Roman papyrus seals, clay seals bulla, ancient Rome gods and goddesses, lead bullae, Roman clay bullae, ancient Greek bullae, Hellenistic Greece bullae, documents seals, lead stamps, clay seals, Los Angeles California USA