Rare Byzantine gold signet ring with woman’s name found in Bulgaria

A rare gold signet ring from the 14th century inscribed with the name of a woman has been discovered near Zlatograd in south-central Bulgaria just three miles from the Greek border. Incised deep in the flat oval face of the ring is the title and name “Sevasta Maria Skulena.” The lettering marks it as having been made in a provincial workshop likely around 1330-1350.

It’s so small that at first glance experts thought it could have belonged to a child, but obviously when they saw it was a signet ring that possibility was eliminated. Children did not authenticate documents with seals of their names and titles. Instead, it must have been worn on Maria Skulena’s pinkie finger, which is a convenient finger to use for stamping.

The title “sevast” which means “honored” or “revered” and was first created by Byzantine Emperor Alexius Komnenos in the 11th century. He meant it only for people of extremely high rank at the Constantinople court. It depreciated over time, and by the 14th century could be bought by local big fish in small pounds and people with deep pockets.

Documents in the archives of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos record a member of the Skules family who was a landowner with extensive properties in Aegean Macedonia (50-100 miles from Zlatograd) as well as the Rhodope Mountains in 1338. Michael Skules was “general judge of the Romans” in 1371 and bore the title “sevast,” which means “honored” or “revered.” Maria Skulena was likely his wife and must have been a person of high social position to have her own document seal.

The ring was acquired by private collector engineer Alexander Mitushev, so unfortunately nothing of is known of its original archaeological context. The only information he was given was that it was found recently near Zlatograd. Mitushev registered the find legally by turning it over to cultural heritage authorities, and then put it on display for the first time last week at the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum in Zlatograd, a museum he founded and continues to expand by sponsoring excavations and by his purchases and donations.

* This article was originally published here