Ancient Resource: 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. 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 nooks lining the walls of this precious library, each papyrus sealed with a blob of clay, marked with the seal of the owner'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. Excavations unearthed this incredible site, 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. Collection ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York.

Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Nice terracotta bulla with the bust of a lady facing right. Interesting shape. 15 mm. #19326: $110 SOLD

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Ancient Rome, c. 200 AD. Fantastic terracotta bulla with a laureate and nimbate facing head, probably of Helios! W: 20mm, with nice brick-red color. From the collection of the late Eldert Bontekoe, owner of Pegasi, Ann Harbor, MI. #AR3344: $275 SOLD

Ancient Rome, c. 1st century AD. Great bulla depicting a female bust right. Reddish-brown color, fingerprints on edges. 19 mm, nicer than photo! #AR2003: $125 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

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 SOLD 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, 1st-2nd century AD. Nice terracotta bulla depicting a goddess enthroned rt, hand held out, holding patera. 18 mm, nice fingerprints! #8064: $135 SOLD Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Bust of Herakles facing right, weating Nemean lion-skin. 21 mm with nice reddish tone. #19034: $50 SOLD Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Depicts a bearded male bust right. Clear detail, nice fingerprints on edges! 19 mm. #19140: $110 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Terracotta bulla depicting the goddess Roma standing, holding spear and shield. Great detail, nice red to burned black coloration, fingerprints on edges. 21 mm. #AR2002: $199 AR2008: $ Ancient Rome, Antonine period, 2nd century AD. Facing male busts, on right may be emperor Commodus. Nice burned patina. 20 mm. Made from the SAME RING as the example at right! -----------> #19091: $150 SOLD Ancient Rome, Antonine period, 2nd century AD. Facing male busts, on right may be emperor Commodus. Nice brick-red color. 20 mm. Made from the SAME RING as the example at left! <---- #AR2492: $125 SOLD Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Nice terracotta bulla depicting the head of Zeus left. Great detail. 20 mm. #AR2496: $150 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 2nd-3rd century AD. Great bulla depicting a male head left. Well-defined features, great detail! H: 21 mm (3/4"). #AR2653: $125 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 2nd-3rd century AD. Excellent bulla depicting a standing goddess, like Fortuna (fortune). H: 17 mm (5/8"). #AR2655: $99 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Terracotta bulla depicting the goddess Roma standing, holding spear and shield. Great detail, nice red to burned black coloration, fingerprints on edges. 21 mm. #AR2002: $199 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Nice clay bulla depicting a horse grazing right. Fingerprints of the maker on the edges. (Just one side has the horse, photographed from 2 angles). 22x17 mm. #AR2498: $99 SOLD Ancient Rome, Antonine period, c. 2nd-3rd century AD. Nice bulla depicting a male head right, with curly hair and long beard. W: 18 mm (11/16"). Great detail! #AR2652: $150 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Nice bulla depicting a male head facing right. H: 18 mm (11/16"). #AR2650: $99 SOLD 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 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Nice bulla depicting a female bust right. Dark reddish-brown color, fingerprints of the maker on edge! 21 mm. #AR2499: $125 SOLD Ancient Greece, c. 3rd-2nd century BC. Marvelous clay bulla with a head right wearing Greek helmet! Burned reddish color. 18 mm. #AR2500: $99 SOLD Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Terracotta bulla with a male bust facing left. May be Zeus. Nice fingerprints on edge. 14 mm. #19382: $85 SOLD	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 SOLD 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 Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Large terracotta bulla depicting a seated goddess holding flower. Fingerprint on edge. 22 mm. #19333: $125 SOLD 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 SOLD 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 SOLD 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 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, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Terracotta bulla depicting a bearded male head right, wearing cap. Excellent detail! Nice fingerprints on edge! Reddish color with earthen deposits. 17x16x9 mm. Very nice! #AR2011: $250 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 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Terracotta bulla depicting a woman standing with a horse. Reddish coloration, excellent fingerprint on edge! A really nice piece. 20x18 mm. #AR2007: $225 SOLD Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Nice terracotta bulla with a laureate youthful male head left. 17 mm. #19193: $125 SOLD Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Bust of Athena in helmet facing right! A rare type. Fingerprints on edges. 20 mm. #19233: $90 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st century AD. Nice bulla depicting a female bust right. Beautiful brick-red color, fingerprints of the maker on edge! 21 mm. #AR2493: $125 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st century AD. Nice bulla depicting a female bust right. Dark reddish-brown color, fingerprints of the maker on edges! 20 mm. #AR2494: $125 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Terracotta bulla depicting two figures seated right, arms reaching up to an object in the sky. Light red coloration, deep detail. Fingerprints around edge. 23x21 mm. Nice! #AR2010: $175 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Excellent bulla depicting a standing goddess, like Fortuna (fortune). H: 22 mm (13/16"). Great detail! Lovely burnished red to black surfaces. #AR2647: $150 SOLD Ancient Rome, Antonine period, c. 2nd-3rd century AD. Incredible bulla depicting a charioteer racing left. Great detail, palm-print of the maker still clearly visible on back! W: 24 mm (15/16"). Large and absolutely gorgeous! #AR2648: $199 SOLD Ancient Roman, c. 1st century BC - 1st century AD. Incredible clay bulla depicting a horse with its head turned back, inscription down side. Fingerprints of the maker visible! 22 mm. #AR2495: $275 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st century AD. Interesting clay bulla depicting 2 kneeling figures facing each other. Burned color, fingerprints of the maker on edges! 20 mm. #AR2501: $125 SOLD Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Terracotta bulla depicting the head of a male god (likely Herakles or Zeus) left. Reddish-brown color, better than photo. 22 mm and very thick. #AR2005: $99 SOLD 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 Greece. Hellenistic, c. 3rd-1st century BC. Nice large clay bulla. A document seal with the impression of a ring bezel depicting Athena standing with a spear and shield. Finger-prints of the maker still visible on the back! 28x30 mm and quite thick. Nice reddish-brown color, light deposits. ex private New Jersey estate collection. #AR3057: $250 SOLD Ancient Rome. Antonine period, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Great clay bulla depicting Mars, holding bow-case and leaning on column. Fingerprints of the maker still visible on edge. 22 mm, nice burned red color. #AR2291: $125 SOLD Ancient Rome, 1st-2nd century AD. Nice terracotta bulla with two goddesses. 20 mm. Fingerprints on edge! #19077: $125 SOLD	Ancient Rome, c. 1st century AD. Great bulla depicting a female bust. Nice red tone, beautiful features! 15 mm. #19260: $125 SOLD Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Nice terracotta bulla depicting Zeus seated left. Reddish tone with fingerprints on edge. 20 mm. #19110: $85 SOLD 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 SOLD Hellenistic Greece. c. 1st Century BC. Forepart of a horse facing right, Greek letters above and to side. Nice! 16 mm. #bu129: $65 SOLD Ancient Rome, Antonine period. 1st-2nd Century AD. Bearded bust right, possibly of emperor Antoninus Pius? sold? Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Terracotta bulla depicting an eagle standing right, wings spread. Light orange to burned black coloration, fingerprints on edge.23x18 mm. Interesting! #AR2009: $99 SOLD 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 SOLD Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Terracotta bulla depicting a male bust rt., weating laurel and ratiant crown. Sharp detail! 19 mm. #19299: $125 SOLD Ancient Rome, Severan period, c. 200-225 AD. Great laureate bust of emperor left (poss. Septimius Severus). Red to burned black coloration, fingerprints on edge. 24x20 mm. #AR2006: $125 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st century AD. Nice bulla depicting a female bust right. Red to burned black coloration, fingerprints on edge. 20 mm. #AR2013: $99 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Small terracotta bulla depicting a goddess kneeling left. Brown coloration with earthen deposits, nice detail. 14x12 mm. #AR2012: $125 SOLD Hellenistic Greece. 1st Century BC. Terracotta bulla depicting a bearded male bust rt., wearing shallow cap. 22 mm. #19278: $110 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Nice bulla depicting a seated figure, 2 standing figures at either side. Fingerprints of the maker on edges! 21 mm. Dark reddish-brown color. #AR2497: $125 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st century AD. Great bulla depicting a female bust right. Outstanding portrait, red to burned black coloration, fingerprint ridges on edge. Large 24 mm. #AR2001: $225 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Nice bulla depicting a male head wearing a laurel facing right. #AR2644: $99 Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Nice bulla depicting winged Victory walking right! 22 mm (13/16"). #AR2645: $150 Hellenistic Greece, c. 2nd-1st century BC. Great bulla depicting a crab! Very cute with nicely-defined details. 18 mm (11/16"), brick red color. #AR2651: $99 Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Great bulla depicting a female head facing right, her hair up in an elaborate hairdo. Broken edge. W: 24 mm (7/8"). #AR2646: $99 Ancient Rome, c. 2nd-3rd century AD. Nice bulla depicting a female goddess, possibly Roman, with a spear and shield, facing left. H: 21 mm (13/16"). #AR2654: $99 Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Nice bulla depicting an eagle with a snake in its beak. #AR2649: $80 Ancient Rome, c. 198-211 AD. Phenomenal clay bulla depicting the head of an emperor, likely the youthful bust of Geta (209-211 AD). Excellent detail, finger-prints of the maker still visible! W: 23 mm. ex-David Liebert, Time Machine, NY. #AR2854: $275 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st century BC-1st century AD. Great lead bulla with a ring impression depicting two fighters, either boxers or wrestlers. Holed through where the ancient twine once held it around an important document or parcel. W: 15 mm. ex-David Liebert, Time Machine, NY. #AR2852: $250 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st century BC-1st century AD. Nice lead bulla depicting the helmeted head of Mars, god of War, with a Latin inscription around. 14x18 mm. Nice detail! ex-David Liebert, Time Machine, NY. #AR2856: $250 SOLD Hellenistic Greece, c. 2nd-1st century BC. Terracotta bulla depicting Zeus seated right. Red to burned black coloration, fingerprints on back, some earthen deposits. 20 mm. #AR2004: $175 SOLD Ancient Rome, c. 1st century AD. Terracotta bulla depicting a female bust left. Red to burned black coloration, fingerprints on edge. Good detail, better than photo. 19 mm. #AR2014: $125 SOLD