Bulla (seal)

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Bulla (plural, Bullae), is a lump of clay molded around a cord and stamped with a seal. When dry, the container cannot be violated without visible damage to the bulla, thereby ensuring the contents remain tamper-proof until they reach their destination.

Multi-stamped bulla (~1" diam.) formerly surrounding a dangling cord; unprovenanced Redondo Beach collection of antiquities
Multi-stamped bulla (~1" diam.) formerly surrounding a dangling cord; unprovenanced Redondo Beach collection of antiquities

Bullae from antiquity appear in two distinct forms:

  • A lump surrounding a dangling cord (as with much later wax bullae and Papal bulls made of lead rather than clay)
  • A flat, disc-shaped lump pressed against a cord surrounding a folded document (such as papyrus or vellum)

In many cases, fingerprints of the person who made the impression remain visible near the border of the seal in the clay.

Stamped bulla sealed by a servant of King Hezekiah, formerly pressed against a cord; unprovenanced Redondo Beach collection of antiquities
Stamped bulla sealed by a servant of King Hezekiah, formerly pressed against a cord; unprovenanced Redondo Beach collection of antiquities
Same stamped bulla (~12 mm long) showing ridges on cord side indicating paypyrus document
Same stamped bulla (~12 mm long) showing ridges on cord side indicating paypyrus document

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