Michael Pyrrhos (eleventh/twelfth century)
Obverse
Inscription of three lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
.φρ
.ισμι
χηλ
[σ]φρα[γ]ὶς Μιχαὴλ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, a decoration above. Border of dots.
του
πυρρ̣,
γρμ,
τ/
τοῦ Πυρρ(οῦ) γραμ(μ)άτ(ων)
Obverse
Inscription of three lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
.φρ
.ισμι
χηλ
[σ]φρα[γ]ὶς Μιχαὴλ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, a decoration above. Border of dots.
του
πυρρ̣,
γρμ,
τ/
τοῦ Πυρρ(οῦ) γραμ(μ)άτ(ων)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.813 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 18.0 mm; field: 14.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2631 (reading the family name as Pyros and offering an alternative of Pygos). |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
σφραγὶς Μιχαὴλ τοῦ Πυρροῦ γραμμάτων.
Seal of the letters of Michael Pyrrhos.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The lettering is not clear towards the end of the second line of the reverse. We have transcribed a rho with an abbreviation mark, but it could also be a tau, in which case we could read Πυρ(οῦ) τ(ῶν) γραμ(μ)άτ(ων) which has the virtue of making the inscription into a proper twelve-syllable verse.