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Theodosios Alexopoulos Ampelas (twelfth century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of three lines, a cross above. Border of dots.


σρα
γισθεο
οσι

σφραγὶς Θεοδοσίου

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a decoration below. Border of dots.

  
αλεο
που̣λου
ταμπε
λα

Ἀλεξοπούλου τοῦ Ἀμπελᾶ

Obverse

Inscription of three lines, a cross above. Border of dots.


σρα
γισθεο
οσι

σφραγὶς Θεοδοσίου

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a decoration below. Border of dots.

  
αλεο
που̣λου
ταμπε
λα

Ἀλεξοπούλου τοῦ Ἀμπελᾶ

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.254
Diameter 17.0 mm; field: 11.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2442.

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

Translation

σφραγὶς Θεοδοσίου Ἀλεξοπούλου τοῦ Ἀμπελᾶ.

Seal of Theodosios Alexopoulos Ampelas.

Commentary

It is not clear whether Alexopoulos is a patronymic or family name in accompaniment with Ampelas, or if Ampelas ("vintner") is the owner's nickname. Seibt argues that it is the owner's profession; see "Some seals of Byzantine professional men," ΑΝΤΙΧΑΡΙΣΜΑΤΟΣ ΕΠΙΣΦΡΑΓΙΣΙΣ: A tribute to Prof. Ivan Jordanov's 70th anniversary, Shumen 2019, 433-34, no. 4. Note the existence of a seal (BZS.1947.2.995) that belonged to Niketas and Alexios Ampelas.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)