LMLK--Typologies
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 		This is a categorization of the different seals (at least 21 known so far) that produced the impressions, & only clear/certain impressions are considered for these categories since fuzzy/uncertain ones may be misleading.  In some cases a clear impression may also be misleading if the seal slipped, or was depressed more than once by the potter, or wasn't cleaned by the potter (resulting in loss of detail from hardened clay stuck in crevices).  This website uses a unique system with 3 or 4 characters described below along with cross-reference tables to the systems used by scholars.  An "x" can be used for any of the characters that cannot be discerned.  (Explanations of the seal orientations (x:00) & pottery types (ACC, AGC, AGG, SCC, SGC, & SGG) are on the Jars page; explanations of the incision types (0, 1, 2, C, P) are on the Incisions page.)

The first character designates the inscription name:
  • G for generic (i.e., no HBRN, MMST, SUKE, or ZYF)
  • H for HBRN
  • M for MMST
  • S for SUKE
  • Z for ZYF
The second character designates the number of wings in the icon (2 or 4).

The third character designates the inscription style:
  • If 2-winged:
    • B for both registers blank
    • D for divided inscription in the bottom register (i.e., contiguous letters)
    • T for top-register inscription only
    • U for undivided inscription in the bottom register
  • If 4-winged:
    • C for cursory (or crude) inscription
    • L for lapidarist (or elegant) inscription
There is some debate over impressions that appear to have the same characteristics designated by the first 3 categories but they may have been made by two distinct seals.  Based on the photos shown on this website, it appears that the S2D & Z4C impressions were made by more than one type of seal:
  • If S2D, the fourth character designates the icon's wing design (although there are also differences in the positioning of the letters relative to the icon & the spacing between the 3 parallel lines of the Hey (ה):
    • R for rigid (similar to the LMRA icon)
    • W for wavy (similar to the other x2x icons)
  • If Z4C, the only significant difference is with the Yod (י), so the fourth character designates:
    • I for inverted Yod inscription
    • Y for Yod properly inscribed
For convenience, here is a summary of abbreviations used by the website typology to classify seals (A, C, G, & S pottery designators are on the Jars page) sorted alphabetically:
  • B for both registers blank (only applies to seals with 2-winged icons)
  • C for cursory inscriptions (only applies to seals with 4-winged icons)
  • D for divided inscription in the bottom register (only applies to seals with 2-winged icons)
  • G for generic (only applies to 2-winged seals without HBRN, MMST, SUKE, or ZYF inscriptions)
  • H for HBRN inscription
  • I for inverted Yod inscription (only applies to seals with 4-winged icons & cursory ZYF inscription)
  • L for lapidarist inscription (only applies to seals with 4-winged icons)
  • M for MMST inscription
  • R for rigid (only applies to seals with 2-winged icons & divided SUKE inscriptions)
  • S for SUKE inscription
  • T for top-register incription (blank bottom register--only applies to seals with 2-winged icons)
  • U for undivided inscription in the bottom register (only applies to seals with 2-winged icons)
  • W for wavy (only applies to seals with 2-winged icons & divided SUKE inscriptions)
  • x (lowercase) for any designator that cannot be determined
  • Y for Yod properly inscribed (only applies to seals with 4-winged icons & cursory ZYF inscription)
  • Z for ZYF or ZF inscriptions

Website Typology

Note:  These line drawings were created by placing a clear sheet of film over the computer image & tracing the outlines.  All available photos (quantities shown in parentheses) contributed since they were resized to similar dimensions.  Only a few drawings need dotted lines to indicate the unknown portion of the seal.  Also, please be aware that the letters shown in these drawings are not nearly as accurate as the ones shown on the Paleography page since those were generated directly via computer images of the seals & these drawings were freehand (i.e., traced) copies.  The main purpose of line drawings is to show the seal features as clearly as possible without the distractions associated with actual photos such as shadows & erosion.
  1. Type G2T (based on photos of 61 handles)

    2.
  2. Type H2D (based on photos of 129 handles)

    3.
  3. Type H2T (based on photos of 6 handles)

    4.
  4. Type H2U (based on photos of 68 handles)

    5.
  5. Type H4C (based on photos of 45 handles)

    6.
  6. Type H4L (based on photos of 108 handles)

    7.
  7. Type M2D (based on photos of 91 handles)

    8.
  8. Type M2T (based on photos of 10 handles)

    9.
  9. Type M2U (based on photos of 43 handles)

    10.
  10. Type M4C (based on photos of 2 handles)

    11.
  11. Type M4L (based on photos of 10 handles)

    12.
  12. Type S2DR (based on photos of 7 handles)

    13.
  13. Type S2DW (based on photos of 35 handles)

    14.
  14. Type S2U (based on photos of 29 handles)

    15.
  15. Type S4L (based on photos of 56 handles)

    16.
  16. Type Z2D (based on photos of 86 handles)

    17.
  17. Type Z2T (based on photos of 8 handles)

    18.
  18. Type Z2U (based on photos of 33 handles)

    19.
  19. Type Z4CI (based on photos of 35 handles)

    20.
  20. Type Z4CY (based on photos of 6 handles)

    21.
  21. Type Z4L (based on photos of 8 handles)

    22.
Click here to analyze the various sets of seals.

Note:  In Tel Aviv vol. 37 #1, Lipschits, Sergi, & Koch attempted to apply this website's typology to Lemaire's, which is erroneous (see Grena's rebuttal on The Bible & Interpretation website).

Sorted by Website (27 types listed; 21 types known)

website Lemaire Welten Diringer/
Lapp/
Aharoni
(G2B) O II (none) (class iii)
G2T X II M IIA 4 iii Md
H2D H IIb H IIA 1
H IIB 2 		III Hc
iii Hb
H2T H IIc (none) (class iii)
H2U H IIa H IIB 1 iii Ha
H4C H Ia H IA 1 i Ha
H4L H Ib H IA 2
H IB 1
H IB 2 		i Hb
ii Ha
ii Hb
M2D M IIb M IIA 2
M IIA 3
M IIA 5
M IIB 1
M IIB 2 		iii Mb
iii Mc
M2T M IIc M IIB 3 iii Me
M2U M IIa M IIA 1
M IIB 4 		iii Ma
M4C M Ia M IA 1 i Ma
M4L M Ib M IB 1 ii Ma
S2DR S IIb S IIA 2 iii Sb
S2DW S IIb S IIB 1 iii Sc
(S2T) S IIc
(reserved) 		(none) (class iii)
S2U S IIa S IIA 1 iii Sa
(S4C) S Ia
(reserved) 		(none) (class i)
S4L S Ib S IB 1 ii Sa
(x2x) (- II-) (- II - -) (class iii)
(x4C) (- Ia) (- IA 1)
(- IA 2) 		(class i)
(x4L) (- Ib) (- IB 1)
(- IB 2) 		(class ii)
Z2D Z IIb Z IIA 1
Z IIB 1 		iii Za
iii Zb
Z2T Z IIc Z IIB 3 (class iii)
Z2U Z IIa Z IIB 2 iii Zc
Z4CI Z Ia Z IA 1 i Za
Z4CY Z Ib Z IA 2 i Zb
Z4L Z Ib Z IB 1 ii Za

Sorted by LEMAIRE (22 types listed; 20 types known)

Andre Lemaire presented this system in "Classification des Estampilles Royales Judeennes", published in 1981 ("Eretz-Israel 15", pp. 54-60, Plate VIII).

The first character:
  • H for hbrn
  • M for mmst
  • O for only icon (i.e., no inscriptions--both registers blank)
  • S for swkh
  • X for "LMLK" top register & blank bottom register
  • Z for z(y)p
The second classifier (Roman numeral) designates the icon design:

  1. 4-winged
  2. 2-winged
The third classifier designates the inscription style:
  • If 4-winged (I):
    1. For cursory inscription
    2. For lapidarist inscription
  • If 2-winged (II):
    1. For undivided name in the bottom register
    2. For divided name in the bottom register (i.e., contiguous letters)
    3. For name in the top register & blank bottom register (no "LMLK")
Note:  In "Jewish Quarter Excavations vol. I", Gabriel Barkay proposed adding to Lemaire's typology an MIc seal as a variant of MIa (although no difference can be confirmed based on published photos), & adding ZIc to represent the website type Z4CY, which was originally suggested as a unique seal type by Aharoni but disregarded by Lemaire.  In IEJ vol. 45 #1, Barkay also recommended adding a type PII to represent the LMRA seal.  None of these 3 changes are included in the cross-reference below since Lemaire is aware of these 3 seals & has not published an amendment.

Lemaire Welten website Diringer/
Lapp/
Aharoni
H Ia H IA 1
H IA 2 		H4C i Ha
i Hb
H Ib H IB 1
H IB 2 		H4L ii Ha
ii Hb
H IIa H IIB 1 H2U iii Ha
H IIb H IIA 1
H IIB 2 		H2D iii Hc
iii Hb
H IIc (none) H2T (class iii)
M Ia M IA 1 M4C i Ma
M Ib M IB 1 M4L ii Ma
M IIa M IIA 1
M IIB 4 		M2U iii Ma
M IIb M IIA 2
M IIA 3
M IIA 5
M IIB 1
M IIB 2 		M2D iii Mb
iii Mc
M IIc M IIB 3 M2T iii Me
O II (none) (G2B) (class iii)
S Ia
(reserved) 		(none) (S4C) (class i)
S Ib S IB 1 S4L ii Sa
S IIa S IIA 1 S2U iii Sa
S IIb (S IIA 2)
S IIB 1 		(S2DR)
S2DW 		(III Sb)
iii Sc
S IIc
(reserved) 		(none) (S2T) (class iii)
X II M IIA 4 G2T iii Md
Z Ia Z IA 1
Z IA 2 		Z4CI i Za
i Zb
Z Ib Z IB 1 Z4L ii Za
Z IIa Z IIB 2 Z2U iii Zc
Z IIb Z IIA 1
Z IIB 1 		Z2D iii Za
iii Zb
Z IIc Z IIB 3 Z2T (class iii)

Sorted by WELTEN (29 types)

Peter Welten presented this system in "Die Konigs-Stempel", published in 1969 (pp. 36-44).

The first character designates the inscription name:
  • H for Hebron
  • M for Mmst
  • S for Socho
  • Z for Ziph
The second classifier (Roman numeral) designates the icon's wing design:

  1. 4-winged
  2. 2-winged
The third classifier designates the icon's artistic design (note--misleading if the impression is weak or corrupt):
  1. For detailed, natural, or realistic
  2. For conventionalized, neutral, outlined, schematic, or stylized
The fourth classifier is a sequential number representing various impressions (1-5 used).

Note:  The line drawings are from "Die Konigs-Stempel" by Peter Welten.
Welten Lemaire website Diringer/
Lapp/
Aharoni
H IA 1
 H Ia H4C i Ha
H IA 2
 H Ia H4C i Hb
H IB 1
 H Ib H4L ii Ha
H IB 2
 H Ib H4L ii Hb
H IIA 1
 H IIb H2D iii Hc
H IIB 1
 H IIa H2U iii Ha
H IIB 2
 H IIb H2D iii Hb
M IA 1
 M Ia M4C i Ma
M IB 1
 M Ib M4L ii Ma
M IIA 1
 M IIa M2U iii Ma
M IIA 2
 M IIb M2D iii Mb
M IIA 3
 M IIb M2D iii Mc
M IIA 4
 X II G2T iii Md
M IIA 5
 M IIb M2D (class iii)
M IIB 1
 M IIb M2D (class iii)
M IIB 2
 M IIb M2D (class iii)
M IIB 3
 M IIc M2T iii Me
M IIB 4
 M IIa M2U (class iii)
S IB 1
 S Ib S4L ii Sa
S IIA 1
 S IIa S2U iii Sa
S IIA 2
 S IIb S2DR iii Sb
S IIB 1
 S IIb S2DW iii Sc
Z IA 1
 Z Ia Z4CI i Za
Z IA 2
 Z Ib Z4CY i Zb
Z IB 1
 Z Ib Z4L ii Za
Z IIA 1
 Z IIb Z2D iii Za
Z IIB 1
 Z IIb Z2D iii Zb
Z IIB 2
 Z IIa Z2U iii Zc
Z IIB 3
Welten did not
provide a
drawing of
this type. 		Z IIc Z2T (class iii)

Sorted by DIRINGER/LAPP/AHARONI (24 types)

David Diringer grouped all LMLK seals into 3 classes in "On Ancient Hebrew Inscriptions Discovered at Tell Ed-Duweir (Lachish)--II", published in 1941 (PEQ vol. 73, pp. 91-101).  Paul W. Lapp listed LMLK inscription variants in "Late Royal Seals From Judah", published in 1960 (BASOR 158, p. 15, Fig. 1).  Yohanan Aharoni added a few inscription variants to the list & attached lowercase letters to the table in "Excavations at Ramat Rahel:  Seasons 1959 & 1960", published in 1962 (p. 46).

The first classifier (Roman numeral) designates the icon's wing design:

  1. 4-winged (detailed, natural, or realistic)
  2. 4-winged (conventionalized, neutral, outlined, schematic, or stylized)
  3. 2-winged
The second character designates the inscription name:
  • H for Hebron
  • M for M M SH T
  • S for Sokoh
  • Z for Zyf
The third classifier (a, b, c, or d) was assigned by Aharoni based on the order the inscriptions were listed in Lapp's table.

Diringer/
Lapp/
Aharoni 		Welten Lemaire website
i Ha H IA 1 H Ia H4C
i Hb H IA 2 H Ib H4L
ii Ha H IB 1 H Ib H4L
ii Hb H IB 2 H Ib H4L
iii Ha H IIB 1 H IIa H2U
iii Hb H IIB 2 H IIb H2D
iii Hc H IIA 1 H IIb H2D
i Ma M IA 1 M Ia M4C
ii Ma M IB 1 M Ib M4L
iii Ma M IIA 1 M IIa M2U
iii Mb M IIA 2 M IIb M2D
iii Mc M IIA 3 M IIb M2D
iii Md M IIA 4 X II G2T
iii Me M IIB 3 M IIc M2T
ii Sa S IB 1 S Ib S4L
iii Sa S IIA 1 S IIa S2U
iii Sb S IIA 2 S IIb S2DR
iii Sc S IIB 1 S IIb S2DW
i Za Z IA 1 Z Ia Z4CI
i Zb Z IA 2 Z Ib Z4CY
ii Za Z IB 1 Z Ib Z4L
iii Za Z IIA 1 Z IIb Z2D
iii Zb Z IIB 1 Z IIb Z2D
iii Zc Z IIB 2 Z IIa Z2U
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 This page was created on February 23, 2002, & last updated on January 2, 2011