The diakonia of the procession of the Blachernae (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God, turned to the left, extending her arms before her. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God, turned to the left, extending her arms before her. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines preceded by decoration. Border of dots.
τησδι
ακονιασ
τησυπο
στρ,φηστ
λαχερ
ν,
τῆς διακονίας τῆς ὑποστρ(ο)φῆς τ(ῶν) Βλαχερν(ῶν)
Accession number | BZS.1947.2.15 |
---|---|
Diameter | 20.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 31.2a; Laurent, Corpus 5.2: no. 1203. A similar specimen is listed in Sig., 149. |
Translation
τῆς διακονίας τῆς ὑποστροφῆς τῶν Βλαχερνῶν.
(Seal of) the diakonia of the procession of the Blachernae.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The reverse is a fifteen-syllable verse. In Laurent's view, the seal attests a "service organized the return of the Blachernae of an imperial procession..." In our opinion it reflects the service's charitable activities on the occasion of a procession returning from a sanctuary or public building to the church of the Blachernae.