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Baanes (sixth/seventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription in three lines. Border of dots.

ΘΕΟ
ΤΟΚΕΒ
ΟΗΘΙ

Θεοτόκε βοήθι

Reverse

Cruciform monogram. Border of dots.

 - Β -  - Ο - Υ

Βαάνου

Obverse

Inscription in three lines. Border of dots.

ΘΕΟ
ΤΟΚΕΒ
ΟΗΘΙ

Θεοτόκε βοήθι

Reverse

Cruciform monogram. Border of dots.

 - Β -  - Ο - Υ

Βαάνου

Accession number BZS.1947.2.1752
Diameter 22.0 mm; field: 17.0 mm

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθι. Βαάνου.

Theotokos, help. (Seal of) Baanes.

Commentary

In his unpublished catalogue of the seals of the Shaw collection, Laurent prefers Ἰωβιανοῦ (Iobianos), although the Ω is not present, as he claims that this is too early for the appearance of the name Baanes. However, that seems unlikely, and indeed, there is no reason that the Armenian name Baanes could not be read in the seventh century, or perhaps even in the late sixth, as other seals in our collection attest.