John (Angelos), sebastos (twelfth century, second half)
Obverse
In the centre, an image of St. Nicholas offering a blessing and holding the book. On either side, an inscription in columns: |ν|ι|κ|ολ|α|ο|σ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικόλαος. Along the circumference, within concentric borders of dots, a circular inscription beginning with a cross at twelve o'clock:
επισραζετασαασμυρολυτατπανσεαστσεαστι
ἐπισφράγιζε τὰς γραφὰς, μυροβλύτα τοῦ πανσεβάστου σεβαστοῦ Ἰω(άννου)
Reverse
Inscription of six lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
ουπισ
ηκισρισσ
κιυνευνε
τησομιμονοσ
νκτοσ
ισκιου
οὗ παῖς ἡ καισάρισσα καὶ ξυνευνέτης ὁμαίμονος ἄνακτος Ἰσαακίου
Obverse
In the centre, an image of St. Nicholas offering a blessing and holding the book. On either side, an inscription in columns: |ν|ι|κ|ολ|α|ο|σ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικόλαος. Along the circumference, within concentric borders of dots, a circular inscription beginning with a cross at twelve o'clock:
επισραζετασαασμυρολυτατπανσεαστσεαστι
ἐπισφράγιζε τὰς γραφὰς, μυροβλύτα τοῦ πανσεβάστου σεβαστοῦ Ἰω(άννου)
Reverse
Inscription of six lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
ουπισ
ηκισρισσ
κιυνευνε
τησομιμονοσ
νκτοσ
ισκιου
οὗ παῖς ἡ καισάρισσα καὶ ξυνευνέτης ὁμαίμονος ἄνακτος Ἰσαακίου
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1145 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 32.0 mm; field: 30.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 767. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
ἐπισφράγιζε τὰς γραφὰς, μυροβλύτα τοῦ πανσεβάστου σεβαστοῦ Ἰωάννου οὗ παῖς ἡ καισάρισσα καὶ ξυνευνέτης ὁμαίμονος ἄνακτος Ἰσαακίου.
You who dispense a healing salve, set your seal upon the letters of John, sebastos venerated by all, whose child is the kaisarissa and wife of the emperor Isaac's brother.
Commentary
The owner of this seal proclaims that his daughter is the kaisarissa married to a brother of the emperor Isaac, in this case Isaac II Angelos (1185-1195, 1203-1204). Either of his younger brothers Theodore and Michael could be the man to whom this kaisarissa was married.
The epithet μυροβλήτης refers to St. Nicholas as the "producer of myrrh"; it also echoes the place of his birth, Myra.