A Unique Crusader-Period Lead Seal from the Old City of Jerusalem

A rare lead seal from the Crusader period, depicting the Byzantine Patriarch of Jerusalem Leontios II (1176–1184/85), has been discovered in a salvage excavation within Jerusalem’s Old City. This is the first known seal of this patriarch, providing concrete evidence that he resided in the Kingdom of Jerusalem between 1177 and 1178. The find also offers new insights into the Byzantine emperor Manuel I Komnenos’ efforts to retain influence over the ruling dynasty in Jerusalem during a pivotal period of Crusader-Byzantine relations.

Kool, R., & Landes-Nagar, A. (2024). A Unique Crusader-Period Lead Seal from the Old City of Jerusalem. ’Atiqot, 110(1). https://doi.org/10.70967/2948-040x.1093