The Prosopography of Healthcare in Byzantium: A Sigillographic Study

This paper examines the prosopography of philanthropy in Byzantium from the perspective of administrative and institutional history, using sigillographic evidence as its primary source. By analysing the seals of xenodochoi, gerokomoi, nosokomoi, and physicians, it seeks to reconstruct the administrative structures, hierarchies, and modes of appointment within healthcare institutions, as well as their integration into the broader framework of imperial and ecclesiastical governance. Attention is given to the chronological and geographical distribution of the evidence, the evolution of official terminology, and the social profiles of officeholders. The prosopographical approach allows for the identification of patterns of continuity and change in the management of these institutions, illustrating how philanthropy functioned both as a form of public service and as an expression of social and religious prestige. Ultimately, the sigillographic record provides a crucial basis for understanding the institutional mechanisms through which Byzantine society organised and legitimised its systems of care. In line with the aims of the thematic session, the paper also reflects on how the systematic collection and digital processing of sigillographic data can advance our understanding of Byzantine administrative and social structures