Şeniz Yener, Pamukkale University

Byzantine lead seals are archaeological evidence that significantly enriches our understanding of Byzantine history, prosopography, administration, and culture. These sigillographic records provide important insights into the administrative and ecclesiastical history of various regions of Byzantine Anatolia.The epigraphic data obtained during the excavations focusing on Temple A, which is the focal point of our research, indicate that the space was dedicated to Apollo and Artemis before being later converted to an imperial cult site. Diocletian restored Temple A in the 20th year of his reign with the aim of reviving paganism, but archaeological evidence has proven that approximately ten years later, the building was used as a Christian institution. This shift, especially considering Diocletian's intention to revive paganism by restoring the temple, constitutes a significant irony. During this process, the temple was converted into a structure serving as an archive in the 3rd to 5th centuries AD reflecting not only a change in religious beliefs but also necessitating a review of the city's political structure. Between 2004 and 2012, extensive excavations in Temple A yielded 321 lead seal impressions, which were meticulously analysed, associated with the building they were found in, and dated on the basis of stratigraphic data. These lead seals fill in the gaps in the historical knowledge of the Byzantine period, especially in certain periods of Byzantine history, for example, by filling in the gaps in the Laodicean Consul registration lists. Some of the 321 seal impressions analysed display iconography depicting events from the life of Jesus and Mary as told in the New Testament. Ranging from the Annunciation to the Crucifixion/Shrouding of Jesus, these previously unknown iconographic elements have increased the variety and depth of Early Christian art. In summary, the analysis of the lead seal impressions from Temple A provides evidence of Byzantine Anatolia's communication system, religious beliefs, and continuity and change between the 3rd and 5th centuries AD.