BYZANTINE SEALS. Anonymous, Circa 10th century. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 26 mm, 10.99 g, 12 h), Amasea?. O AΓΙΟS ΘΕΟΔΩΡΟS Nimbate St. Theodore, on horseback to right, spearing dragon. Rev. O AΓΙΟS ΘΕΟΔΩΡΟS Nimbate St. Theodore, in military dress, standing facing, holding spear with his right hand and shield with his left. No parallel found. Extremely unusual and rare depiction of St. Theodoros slaying a dragon. About very fine.

Depictions of St. Theodore as a dragon slayer are extremely rare, but actually preceded the equivalent of St. George, who until the 11th century was frequently depicted killing a man rather than a dragon. The depiction in this seal is indeed really interesting and extremely unusual to our eyes. The most famous depiction of St. Theodore as a Dragon-Slayer, can be found in the Doge's palace in Venice, a spoil of the disgraceful sack of Constantinople during the 4th Crusade.