George metropolitan of Russia and synkellos (eleventh century)
Obverse
St. George standing, holding spear, his left hand resting on shield set on the ground. Faint traces of vertical inscription: Γ|Ε|Ρ|Γ: Ὁ ἅγιος Γεώργιος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
κεθ
γεργηο
.Ρ̅ορσιασ
συγκελ
Κύριε βοήθει Γεωργήο μητροπολίτῃ Ῥωσίας (καὶ) συγκέλλῳ
Obverse
St. George standing, holding spear, his left hand resting on shield set on the ground. Faint traces of vertical inscription: Γ|Ε|Ρ|Γ: Ὁ ἅγιος Γεώργιος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
κεθ
γεργηο
.Ρ̅ορσιασ
συγκελ
Κύριε βοήθει Γεωργήο μητροπολίτῃ Ῥωσίας (καὶ) συγκέλλῳ
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.1261 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 21.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 85.2. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Γεωργήο μητροπολίτῃ Ῥωσίας καὶ συγκέλλῳ.
Lord, help George metropolitan of Russia and synkellos.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Metropolitensiegel des Kiewer Russland (Open in Zotero)
- Aktovye pečati Drevnej Rusi X — XV vv., Vol. 1, Pečati X - načala XIII v. (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Laurent read line 3 of the reverse inscription as [τ]ο Ῥωσίας, but it is still possible to discern the letter Ρ and the dash above indicating a contraction. There can be no doubt that this seal was issued by George, metropolitan of Kiev ca. 1068-73.
The location of the see varied. Its early history remains murky, but we know that it was established at Kiev in the 1030s, shifted to Vladimir in 1298, and finally to Moscow in 1328. Cf. Laurent, Corpus V/1, 599-600.