Nikephoros archbishop of Rhizaion (tenth century)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on three steps, with fleurons rising to the lower crossbar. Circular inscription, beginning at seven o'clock. Border of dots.
....ηθιτ.........
[Κ(ύρι)ε βο]ήθι τ[ῷ σῷ δούλῳ]
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on three steps, with fleurons rising to the lower crossbar. Circular inscription, beginning at seven o'clock. Border of dots.
....ηθιτ.........
[Κ(ύρι)ε βο]ήθι τ[ῷ σῷ δούλῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
.νικ
.φορ
.ρχιεπ.
.κοπο.
ιζε..
Νικ[η]φόρῳ [ἀ]ρχιεπ[ισ]κόπο [Ῥ]ιζέ[ου]
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1579 |
---|---|
Diameter | 22.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 37.1. See also Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 858. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθι τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νικηφόρῳ ἀρχιεπισκόπο Ῥιζέου.
Lord, help your servant Nikephoros, archbishop of Rhizaion.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos (Open in Zotero)
- Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis: Series episcoporum ecclesiarum christianarum orientalium (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Now Rize, on the Black Sea coast east of Trebizond, Rhizaion has a complicated history. Initially it was a suffragan bishopric of Neokaisareia; it became an independent archbishopric in the early eighth century, but reverted to its former status as a suffragan of Neokaisareia shortly before 980. It was again elevated to the rank of archbishopric before becoming a metropolis. See Laurent, Corpus V/1, 363-64, 667; Bryer-Winfield, Pontos, 331-34. List of prelates in Fedalto, HEO I, 404.