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(The monastery of the Theotokos) Psychosostis (twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God orans with medallion of Christ before her. At left and right: ΜΡθυ̅ : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

σζ,
πνγνε
πντσοσ
ψυχοσ
στισ

σῴζ(οις), Πάναγνε, πάντας ὁς Ψυχοσῶστις

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God orans with medallion of Christ before her. At left and right: ΜΡθυ̅ : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

σζ,
πνγνε
πντσοσ
ψυχοσ
στισ

σῴζ(οις), Πάναγνε, πάντας ὁς Ψυχοσῶστις

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.454
Diameter 18.0 mm; field: 14.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 57.1; Laurent, Corpus 5.2: no. 1188.

Translation

σῴζοις, Πάναγνε, πάντας ὡς Ψυχοσῶστις.

As the saviour of souls, All-holy One, save us all.

Commentary

Twelve-syllable verse.

Laurent is correct in asserting that, although the legend on the reverse does not specifically mention any monastery or church, the inclusion of a Marian epithet is a strong indication that the specimen was issued by an ecclesiastical institution dedicated to the Theotokos Psychosostis. One such sanctuary is known from Constantinople. On the basis of a hagiographical source we know that it had a hegoumenos named Theodosios who was active toward the end of the eleventh century. See Janin, Églises, 243–44, who is inclined to place the institution in the area of the Blachernae. We note that the monastery is mentioned in the typikon of the Pantokrator. The reference relates to some property bought by the Pantokrator from the monastery Psychosostis.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • La géographie ecclésiastique de l’empire byzantin, Vol. 1, Le siège de Constantinople et le patriarcat oecuménique, Pt. 3, Les églises et les monastères (Open in Zotero)