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Gregory (bishop) of Anaia (seventh/eighth century)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of three lines, a cross above and a cross between tendrils below. Wreath border.

+
χ̅εοθ̅σ
σκεπεκ,
σζε
 + 

Χ(ριστ)ὲ ὁ Θ(εὸ)ς σκέπε κ(αὶ) σῶζε

Reverse

Inscription of three lines, crosses between tendrils above and below. Wreath border.

 + 
γρηγορ
ιοντον
νεν
 + 

Γρηγόριον τὸν Ἀνέων

Obverse

Inscription of three lines, a cross above and a cross between tendrils below. Wreath border.

+
χ̅εοθ̅σ
σκεπεκ,
σζε
 + 

Χ(ριστ)ὲ ὁ Θ(εὸ)ς σκέπε κ(αὶ) σῶζε

Reverse

Inscription of three lines, crosses between tendrils above and below. Wreath border.

 + 
γρηγορ
ιοντον
νεν
 + 

Γρηγόριον τὸν Ἀνέων

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1345
Diameter 29.0 mm; field: 25.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 3, no. 6.1. See also Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 290; Zacos-Veglery, no. 2878.

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

Translation

Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς σκέπε καὶ σῶζε Γρηγόριον τὸν Ἀνέων.

Christ, the Lord, watch over and save Gregory (bishop) of Anaia.

Commentary

The inscription may represent an early example of a metrical seal; if one omits the initial invocation Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, the rest forms a correct twelve-syllable verse.

Anaia (ἡ Ἀναία or τὰ Ἄναια: modern Ania or Kadi kalesi to the south of Ayasoluk) was the site of bishopric as early as the fourth century, as its bishops are attested at least until the thirteenth. It is mentioned as a suffragan of Ephesos in all the notitiae. See Laurent, Corpus V/1, 204 (add Zacos, Seals II, nos. 902 and 1057); Culerrier, Suffragants d'Ephèse, 153 (episcopal list); Zgusta, 72.

Bibliography