John XIV Kalekas, patriarch of Constantinople (1334–47)
Obverse
The Mother of God, seated on a high-back throne, holding Christ on her knees. Sigla preserved at right: ΘV: [Μή(τη)ρ] Θ(εο)ῦ. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Partially preserved inscription of eight lines, the bottom three obliterated. Indeterminate border.
ΙΩΑ
ΝΗΣΕΛΕ...
ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣ . . .
ΚΩΝΑ . . .
ΠΟΛΕΩ . . .
[Ἰ]ωά[ν]νης ἐλέ[ῳ Θ(εο)ῦ] ἀρχιεπίσ[κοπος] Κωνστα[ντινου]πόλεω[ς Νέας Ῥώμης καὶ οἰκουμενικὸς πατριάρχης]
Obverse
The Mother of God, seated on a high-back throne, holding Christ on her knees. Sigla preserved at right: ΘV: [Μή(τη)ρ] Θ(εο)ῦ. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Partially preserved inscription of eight lines, the bottom three obliterated. Indeterminate border.
ΙΩΑ
ΝΗΣΕΛΕ...
ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣ . . .
ΚΩΝΑ . . .
ΠΟΛΕΩ . . .
[Ἰ]ωά[ν]νης ἐλέ[ῳ Θ(εο)ῦ] ἀρχιεπίσ[κοπος] Κωνστα[ντινου]πόλεω[ς Νέας Ῥώμης καὶ οἰκουμενικὸς πατριάρχης]
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.4 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 35.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 130.1; mentioned by Laurent, Corpus 5.1: no. 37; Zacos, Seals 2: 44a and 44b. |
Translation
Ἰωάννης ἐλέῳ Θεοῦ ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Κωνσταντινουπόλεως Νέας Ῥώμης καὶ οἰκουμενικὸς πατριάρχης.
John, by the grace of God, archbishop of Constantinople, the New Rome, and ecumenical patriarch.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 6, Emperors, Patriarchs of Constantinople, Addenda (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This entry follows Nesbitt's suggestion (DO Seals 6 no. 130.1) in ascribing this specimen to John XIV Kalekas. The layout of the visible letters on the left side of the reverse match the illustrations in Zacos, Seals 2, in particular the reading of NHCEΛ on the second line.