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Michael metropolitan of Karia (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. Michael holding a scepter. Part of a circular inscription visible, beginning with a cross. Border of dots.

ΤΞΙΡΧ

ταξιάρχ[α βοήθει]

Reverse

Inscription of five lines preceded and followed by rows of pellets. Border of dots.


..Σ,
...ΑΗΛΕΛ
...ΥΜΗΤΡ
...ΛΙΤΗ
...ΙΣ

[τῷ] σῷ δ(ούλῳ) [Μιχ]αὴλ ἐλ[έῳ Θ(εο)]ῦ μητρ[οπο]λίτῃ [Καρ]ίας

Obverse

Bust of St. Michael holding a scepter. Part of a circular inscription visible, beginning with a cross. Border of dots.

ΤΞΙΡΧ

ταξιάρχ[α βοήθει]

Reverse

Inscription of five lines preceded and followed by rows of pellets. Border of dots.


..Σ,
...ΑΗΛΕΛ
...ΥΜΗΤΡ
...ΛΙΤΗ
...ΙΣ

[τῷ] σῷ δ(ούλῳ) [Μιχ]αὴλ ἐλ[έῳ Θ(εο)]ῦ μητρ[οπο]λίτῃ [Καρ]ίας

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1103
Diameter 23.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 2, no. 66.4; and Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 516 (different restitution). Note a parallel specimen, found at Aphrodisias (the specimen has a silver wash), published by Nesbitt, "Seals from Aphrodisias," 161, no. 3.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Ταξιάρχα βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ ἐλέῳ Θεοῦ μητροπολίτῃ Καρίας.

Commander of the heavenly host, help your servant Michael, by the mercy of God metropolitan of Karia.

Commentary

Karia was the name of the southwestern part of Asia Minor, a Roman province (ODB I, 381); it survives also in the Turkish placename Geyre, the village next to the ruins of ancient Aphrodisias, obviously because this was the name of the village before the arrival of the Turks.