John protekdikos (twelfth century)
Obverse
The Mother of God ("Stabbed with a knife") standing, holding the Child in front of her. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Mother of God. Epithet inscribed on either side: Η|Μ|Α|Χ|ΑΙΡΩ|ΘΕΙ|Σ|Α: ἡ Μαχαιρωθείσα. Border of dots.
Obverse
The Mother of God ("Stabbed with a knife") standing, holding the Child in front of her. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Mother of God. Epithet inscribed on either side: Η|Μ|Α|Χ|ΑΙΡΩ|ΘΕΙ|Σ|Α: ἡ Μαχαιρωθείσα. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription in four lines with decoration above. Border of dots.
ΙΟΥ
ΣΦΡΓΙΣΜ
ΤΠΡΤΕΚ
ΔΙΚΟΥ
Ἰωάννου σφράγισμα τοῦ πρωτεκδίκου
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1248 |
---|---|
Diameter | 34.0 mm; field: 27.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 109. Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 1072b. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Ἰωάννου σφράγισμα τοῦ πρωτεκδίκου.
Seal of John, protekdikos.
Bibliography
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Les sceaux byzantins de la Collection Henri Seyrig (Open in Zotero)
- Die Darstellung der Theotokos auf byzantinischen Bleisiegeln, besonders im 11. Jahrhundert (Open in Zotero)
- The Mother of God, "Stabbed with a Knife" (Open in Zotero)
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Dodecasyllable. The type of the Virgin here depicted is discussed by Galavaris, "The Mother of God, 'Stabbed with a Knife'," and Seibt, "Die Darstellung der Theotokos," 45-46. Cf. Seyrig, no. 237, and BZS.1955.1.4995 (linked to this entry). The image copied on these seals was likely in Hagia Sophia, as were the offices of the individuals who place it on their seals indicate.