Niketas synkellos, chartoularios of the Great Orphanotropheion, bishop of Ionopolis (eleventh century)
Obverse
The Virgin enthroned (throne with a high back and one round cushion) holding a medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: ̅–θ̅υ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Circle of pellets within a double border of dots.
Obverse
The Virgin enthroned (throne with a high back and one round cushion) holding a medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: ̅–θ̅υ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Circle of pellets within a double border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines, followed by a decoration. Circle of pellets within a double border of dots.
+θ̅κ̅εRθ,
νικητα
συγκελλ
Sχ̅τ̅λ̅,του
ορφανοτρο
φ,θυτι
νοπολ,
– –
Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικήτᾳ συγέλλῳ (καὶ) χ(αρ)τ(ου)λ(αρίῳ) τοῦ μ(ε)γ(άλου) ὀρφανοτροφ(είου), θύτου Ἰωνοπόλ(εως)
Accession number | BZS.1947.2.23 |
---|---|
Diameter | 29.0 mm; field: 22.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 18.3c. A similar specimen is published by Zacos, Seals II, no. 657; see also PBW: Niketas 20144. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει Νικήτᾳ συγέλλῳ καὶ χαρτουλαρίῳ τοῦ μεγάλου ὀρφανοτροφείου, θύτου Ἰωνοπόλεως.
Mother of God, help Niketas, synkellos and chartoularios of the Great Orphanotropheion, bishop of Ionopolis.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
- Βυζαντιακὰ μολυβδόβουλλα. Ἡ συλλογὴ Ἀναστασίου Κ. Π. Σταμούλη (Open in Zotero)
- Paphlagonien und Honorias (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis: Series episcoporum ecclesiarum christianarum orientalium (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This seal is a slightly bigger, exact copy of BZS.1958.106.38 and BZS.1958.106.2897.
See John W. Nesbitt, "The Orphanotrophos: Some observations on the history of the office in light of seals," SBS 8 (2003), 57-58.