Anonymous (twelfth century)
Obverse
Half-length portrait of St. George holding a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left. Sigla: γ|ε||ρ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γεώρ(γιος). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
ομαρτυσ
λητοσεστ
σραγιστ
λογν
ὁ μάρτυς λητός ἐστ[ιν] σφραγὶς τῶ[ν] λόγων
Obverse
Half-length portrait of St. George holding a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left. Sigla: γ|ε||ρ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γεώρ(γιος). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
ομαρτυσ
λητοσεστ
σραγιστ
λογν
ὁ μάρτυς λητός ἐστ[ιν] σφραγὶς τῶ[ν] λόγων
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1278 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 27.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 1560. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
ὁ μάρτυς λητός ἐστιν σφραγὶς τῶν λόγων.
The martyr is an intercessor who seals my documents.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
We have followed Wassiliou-Seibt's reading of the metrical inscription, but not without misgivings. It may just as easily read ὁ μάρτυς αὐτός ἐστιν σφραγὶς τῶν λόγων, "the martyr himself is the seal of the letters."