Constantine bishop of Pontoherakleia (eighth/ninth century)
Obverse
The Mother of God standing, holding Christ on her left arm. On either side, a cruciform monogram. The monogram on the left comprises Β below, Κ at left, Τ and Ο in ligature above, Η at right, and Θ in the middle. The monogram on the right consists of Δ and Ω in ligature below, Λ at left, Τ and in ligature above, and Σ at right. Wreath border.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, a decoration above. Wreath border.
κωνστ
αντινωΕ
πισκωπ
ωηρακλ
..ασΠ
Κωνσταντίνῳ ἐπισκώπῳ Ἡρακλ[εί]ας Π(όντ)ου
Obverse
The Mother of God standing, holding Christ on her left arm. On either side, a cruciform monogram. The monogram on the left comprises Β below, Κ at left, Τ and Ο in ligature above, Η at right, and Θ in the middle. The monogram on the right consists of Δ and Ω in ligature below, Λ at left, Τ and in ligature above, and Σ at right. Wreath border.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, a decoration above. Wreath border.
κωνστ
αντινωΕ
πισκωπ
ωηρακλ
..ασΠ
Κωνσταντίνῳ ἐπισκώπῳ Ἡρακλ[εί]ας Π(όντ)ου
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.160 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 29.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 8.1; Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 302 (erroneous reading); Zacos-Veglery, no. 1331 (with correct reading). |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Κωνσταντίνῳ ἐπισκώπῳ Ἡρακλείας Πόντου.
Theotokos, help your servant Constantine, bishop of Pontoherakleia.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
- Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (Open in Zotero)
- Paphlagonien und Honorias (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis: Series episcoporum ecclesiarum christianarum orientalium (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The modern Eregli, Pontoherakleia (or Herakleia of Pontos) was an important administrative center (archon, dioiketes) and a suffragan bishopric of Klaudioupolis until the XIIIth century when it was promoted to a metropolis. The see lasted until 1387. See ODB 2, 915-16; Paphlagonien, 208-216; Laurent, Corpus V/1, 349-50, 631-632. List of bishops in Fedalto, HEO I, 91-2.