What is sphragistics? The Science of Seals

Answer the question: "What is sphragistics?" The beginning of it was laid in 1709 by M. Heinektsii. Sphragistics is a science that studies seals. Heineqci was followed by Johann Geimann, who gave this science the modern name, and then Gatterer, Gerken, Ledebour, Hohenlohe-Waldenburg and others. Zayler owns the best recently written essays on sphragistics.

The development of the science of seals

In the XVIII century, sphragistics began to form as a department of diplomacy. Its purposes at that time were to date the document, as well as to establish its authenticity. In the future, the concept of what sphragistics is, has been expanded. In the scientific use since the end of the XIX century, numerous seals have been introduced, which have lost their connection with the document (ancient Babylonian, ancient Egyptian, Old Russian, Parthian, Old Indian, etc.). They were discovered during excavations. Since that time, sphragistics is a science that studies, among other things, the history of the development and formation of ancient state institutions on the basis of classification of seals, which revealed changes in its apparatus. In the USSR there was a noticeable rise in this science. This was due to a significant expansion of materials found during excavations in Pskov and Novgorod.

In Russian literature, with the exception of a special chapter in A. Lakier's book The Russian Heraldry, which describes the press and gives an answer to the question of what sphragistics is, for a long time there have been only insignificant and fragmentary information on this science. Yanin published in 1970 a two-volume study called "Aktovye press of Ancient Rus." This scientist became the continuer of the case of NP Likhachev, who is considered the founder of Soviet sphragistics. It was Likhachev who became a key figure in the study of the heritage of ancient Russia after the Novgorod fort was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century. The science of seals is not very active today, but it is still developing. There are new studies in this area.

Relationship of sphragistics with numismatics and heraldry

So, we learned that sphragistics is a science that studies seals. Let us now find out with what branches of knowledge it has the greatest connection. This science is directly connected with numismatics and heraldry. With the latter - the fact that previously used only on seals, numerous images were then transferred to the arms. Seals were used by specific princes. They showed the emblem of the inheritance in which they reigned. After a while, these emblems were often included in the arms. This happened, for example, in the princes Golitsyn (the coat of arms of the Lithuanian principality).

Sphragistics is connected with numismatics by the fact that often on coins the stamp of that prince who at that time ruled was minted. If the inscription on the coin did not survive, the emblem on the seal could reveal its origin.

Ancient seals

In order to better understand what sphragistics is, let us turn to history. Very old is the custom of using seals. Already in ancient times, the Oriental peoples put an impression of the press. This custom was spread mainly in Babylon, Persepolis and Egypt. The seals of that time were solid colored stones that had the shape of beetles, cylinders, etc. They were marked with different signs.

In many places of the Bible one can find references to seals. For example, in the 21st chapter of the third book of Kings, in the XIV chapter of the book of Daniel, in chapter XXXVIII of the book of Genesis. The custom of their use from the Eastern peoples was borrowed by the Romans and Greeks. The Romans used to use print-rings. They made an impression of the seal, applying it to various kinds of acts. Settled on Roman soil, the tribes adopted this custom, which nevertheless became widespread and common not earlier than the XII century.

The meaning and custom of using seals in antiquity

For a long time, the seal replaced the signature, so its significance was great. Various precautions were used to prevent forgery. It was precisely this goal that was originally the science that studied seals. With special solemnity, they were applied to important acts. Both the Germans and the Romans had the custom of putting the seal-ring together with the deceased into the tomb. They were sometimes worn by the keepers of state and royal seals.

Kinds of ancient seals

Until the 8th century, mostly unilateral ones were used. However, after two centuries they began to be replaced by double ones, which were glued to paper, parchment or hung on laces. There were seals of lead (in other words - seal-bulls, which got their name from lead balls, on which the image was beaten out), silver, gold (rare), bronze, wax, tin and wax. With the exception of wax and wax, they were all suspended. In the western sphragistics such seals were called sigilla, or sigilla pendentia. They hung in the lower part of the letters, immediately after the signature, on a silk or linen cord or on a scrap of leather or parchment. If there were several seals, when they were placed they followed the title and position of the owners.

The form of seals was very diverse: they were round (the oldest), oblong, oval, square, triangular, hexagonal, etc.

The value of the color of seals

By the nature of the work and the dignity of the people, the color of the wax differed. Belonging to the sovereign, as well as to persons with special privileges, gave the right to make a seal with red wax. The patriarch of Constantinople usually printed black letters with his black wax. Azure or blue was considered a privilege in the 16th and 17th centuries.

State Seals

On the seals, the emblems, inscriptions in the form of rules, instructions, images of the owners' faces were given to the owners. The symbols or emblems were especially diverse. Special state seals have been and are in every state. They are divided into three main types: small, medium and large. The big ones were intended for the most important documents, mainly international treatises and legislative acts. Small and medium-sized were used for less important documents, as well as letters for sovereigns. For private use of the rulers in some states, there are special kind of private press (in particular, in the Netherlands and England). The custodian of the state press is mostly the Ministry or the Minister of Justice, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Sweden, Wurttemberg, the Netherlands and Bavaria) and the State Ministry (in Prussia).

Bearing the family coat of arms is the Pope. It is attached to the papal treatises and letters. The Secretary of State also has a special stamp. The storage of the state seal in Switzerland is carried out in the office of the Union Council.

The first Russian seals

The first mention of seals in Russia is in the contracts of Svyatoslav and Igor with the Greeks. From the document of 945 we learn that our ambassadors were to use gold seals, and merchants (guests) are silver. In 1006 Vladimir organized a free trade between Russian and Bulgarian merchants. He gave both of them special seals as a sign of princely permission. They also served as a proof of the title of merchants.

Distribution of seals in Russia

First, the right to have a seal belonged only to the Grand Duke. However, with fragmentation into the fate of Russia, it also spread to the specific princes. Seals with the administrative development of our country became the property of servicemen of various kinds. Orders and cities also had them. Two types were princely seals: personal, private (print-rings) and state, official. Following the example of the first noble boyars began to start typing at home. They were metallic - silver, gold, lead and silver gilded; Waxen (yellow, black, red and dark brown); Voskomastichnye, which due to greater strength replaced wax; Printing on resin or tar (very rare), as well as wax, which have been in use since the end of the XVII century. On the laces of various colors - hemp, garusnyh and silk - were printed metal seals. Others were attached and, for greater safety, sometimes covered with paper. Because of this, they became known as seals under the custody.

Images on seals

The most ancient princely seal that has come down to us is silver, gilded, on which the face of Christ is depicted on one side, and on the other - the enchanting serpent of the Archangel Michael. This seal is brought to the letter of gratitude of Mstislav Vladimirovich (prince) and Vsevolod (his son). It is dated 1125-1132 years. In addition to the images mentioned, the later prints of the princes include saints Nikolai, Alexander, Simeon, John the Baptist, etc., images of princes, various emblems, and an inscription that this is the seal of a particular prince. A lot of antique samples were found among the seals of the XIV-XV centuries. Science sphragistics and is now engaged in their research. They, most likely, were taken out of Byzantium. These seals depict mythological subjects.

The oldest of the city seals, which reached us, is the Novgorod one, dating back to 1426. It was attached to the contractual charter of Novgorod with Tver Prince Boris Alexandrovich. It depicts an animal with a horse's head, legs and a lion's back, running with its tail lifted. A rope in the form of a bridle is seen between his neck and head. On the back there is an inscription, which reads: "The Seal of Novgorod." The Novgorod seals later depicted a panther or a tiger, a female figure sitting on a chair, a two-headed eagle, a bear, and others.

Pskov historically follow the Novgorod. The oldest of these dates back to 1510. It depicts a leopard running with a raised tail, sticking out his tongue and straightened claws. Around the seal is the inscription: "The seal of the state of Pskov". The cities that were built in the 15th and 16th centuries were printed by the government. It often complemented and changed them. Various seals were used until 1702, and afterwards - mainly with a double-headed eagle.

All these varieties of domestic sphragistics are still studying today. An appeal to history helps to reveal patterns in this science. Russian sphragistics, in particular, helps to understand how our state developed, which gives important information about history.