Niketas Xiphilinos, judge and koiaistor (1098)
Obverse
Inscription of five lines preceded by a small cross. Border of dots.
χρΉζεισ
μαθεῖν
γνΏριζε
κοιαΊστ
ραμε
χρήζεις μαθεῖν; γνώριζε κοιαίστωρά με
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, preceded by a small cross. Border of dots.
κριτ̀
νικΉταν
τονξιφι
λῖνονγΈ
νοσ
κριτὴν Νικήταν τὸν Ξιφιλῖνον γένος
Obverse
Inscription of five lines preceded by a small cross. Border of dots.
χρΉζεισ
μαθεῖν
γνΏριζε
κοιαΊστ
ραμε
χρήζεις μαθεῖν; γνώριζε κοιαίστωρά με
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, preceded by a small cross. Border of dots.
κριτ̀
νικΉταν
τονξιφι
λῖνονγΈ
νοσ
κριτὴν Νικήταν τὸν Ξιφιλῖνον γένος
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.546 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 29.0 mm; field: 22.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Laurent, Corpus II, no. 1116; Bulles métriques, no. 555; Oikonomides, Dated Seals, no. 105. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
χρήζεις μαθεῖν; γνώριζε κοιαίστωρά με κριτὴν Νικήταν τὸν Ξιφιλῖνον γένος.
Do you wish to know? Know that I am the koiaistor and judge Niketas, Xiphilinos by descent.
Bibliography
- A Collection of Dated Byzantine Lead Seals (Open in Zotero)
- Actes de Docheiariou (Open in Zotero)
- Actes d’Iviron (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Les bulles métriques dans la sigillographie byzantine (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
See Oikonomides's comments in Dated Seals, p. 102, on this and other seals of Niketas Xiphilinos who certified a copy of the will of Kale Pakouriane, a document from which his seal still hangs.
The inscription consists of two twelve-syllable verses. Note the use of accent marks.