The document, Magna Carta Libertatum (Great Charter of Freedoms) is commonly known as the Magna Carta. The barons demanded that their rights be respected by King John and subsequently on 15 June 1215 a royal charter of rights was agreed to by King John. The taxes he levied on the English nobility to pay for his foreign wars created much resentment. His loss of the duchy of Normandy (1214) was seen as a huge failure. King John was crowned when his brother, Richard the Lionheart died in 1199. Pendant seals were attached to documents on silk, strips of material, hemp or parchment. Double-sided seals are known as pendant seals. The single-sided seals were stamped onto the parchment. Gold was usually reserved for the monarch seal matrixes, especially the Great Seals. The preferred materials were bronze, silver and gold. Sometimes other soft materials were used. In mediaeval times the seal matrix was pushed into hot beeswax and then stamped onto documents to seal them closed and authenticate the source. Forging the Great Seal was considered treason and punishable by death When a Great Seal was decommissioned it would be destroyed in front of witnesses to prevent its use or copies being made. It was seen as the signature of the monarch and it was sometimes referred to as t he key to the kingdom. Since the 11th century the Great Seal has been the seal of authentication for English and Scottish monarchs. Old seals were ceremonially broken up once the reign had ended. A new Great Seal was made for each reign. The Chancellor would keep possession of the Great Seal. In England the term Great Seal is given to seals used by monarchs. Important people, nobles and members of royal families had their own seals. On the death of the owner the signet ring would either be buried with them or destroyed. It served the same purpose a signature does today. The stamp of the signet ring in wax prevented forgeries and thefts. The signet ring dates back to the ancient Egyptian era. Easily portable seals were also worn as jewellery. As many people were illiterate, a seal with a symbol was an ideal way to lay claim to property or goods. Monasteries, guilds and merchants have been recorded as sealing documents. By the 13th century this method of sealing documents was widespread. In the Middle Ages the practice of sealing with wax seals would have been reserved for the ruling elite and wealthy classes. Lumps of clay stamped by the cylinder seals were also used to seal doors to prevent entry by unauthorised people and even jars of food or boxes containing jewels were sealed.Ĭommercial transactions were recorded on seals stamped on the relevant consignments.Īs well as fired clay, metal and stone impressions have been found. These early forms of jewellery were also worn as talismans and given apotropaic powers. The seal was used to give the stamp of authority to a document. Religious beliefs and ancient rituals were the most popular designs seen on important seals at this time.Īs food was principally sourced from hunting, this activity was of paramount importance and so it was often portrayed in art.Ĭylinder seals were often hollow and worn around the neck of notable officials. Shusiba, servant of the house/temple of the god Ishkur On the right a bearded man is attacking a water buffalo. A star and a crescent can be seen between them. On the right a figure that has the appearance of half-man half-bull is fighting with a lion. The scene above could be a hunting or sporting scene or one that had spiritual meaning. They engraved or incised figures in stone or other hard material depressed below the surface so that an impression from the design yields an image in relief when pressed upon a softer material such as clay, wax or heated metal. The artisans who created the seals used intaglio. Sargon I founded the Akkadian Empire, which spanned approximately two centuries. Sargon’s supposed ability to analyse the king’s dreams aided him in his mission to overthrow the king. He was a cupbearer who drove the king from power. Some cupbearers were chosen for their ability to analyse dreams or to predict the future. The king would rely on the cupbearer to prevent him from being poisoned. As well as being responsible for the king’s wine and beverages, the cupbearer would often hold positions of great trust. Whilst this may not appear to be an important role, the name belies its significance. Balu-ili was a court official who was a cupbearer. The owner of the seal is shown in cuneiform lettering above the head of the ibex. The symmetry of the trees give this stamped impression uniformity. The hunting scene depicts an important way of life, as much of the food was derived from hunting wild animals. On the right hand side we can see a modern impression on clay of the frieze-like stamp this seal produces.
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