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Michael Bouches, (metropolitan) of Methymna (twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

The Mother of God (Basiotissa) standing, holding Christ. On either side part of an inscription visible: |Η|.|.ΘΥ̅|ΣΙ|.|..|..: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ ἡ [Βα]σι[ώτισσα]. No border visible.

Reverse

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


..ΧΗΝ
ΜΙΜΗΘΥ
ΣΑΓΝ.
ΣΚΕΠΟΙ

[Β]ουχῆν Μιχ(αὴλ) Μηθύμνης, Ἁγν[ή], σκέποις

Obverse

The Mother of God (Basiotissa) standing, holding Christ. On either side part of an inscription visible: |Η|.|.ΘΥ̅|ΣΙ|.|..|..: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ ἡ [Βα]σι[ώτισσα]. No border visible.

Reverse

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


..ΧΗΝ
ΜΙΜΗΘΥ
ΣΑΓΝ.
ΣΚΕΠΟΙ

[Β]ουχῆν Μιχ(αὴλ) Μηθύμνης, Ἁγν[ή], σκέποις

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.916
Diameter 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 2, no. 52.2. See also Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 806; Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 214; PBW : Michael 20272.. Laurent lists two other specimens that are from the same boulloterion and illustrates one (from the Vienna Museum); Lihačev illustrates the other (IZIGI, pl. VI, no. 18; cf. Šandrovskaja, Sfragistika II, no. 803 = SBS 3 [1993] 162). Owing to the corrosion of the DO seal, these specimens have been used to confirm the reading.

Translation

Βουχῆν Μιχαὴλ Μηθύμνης, Ἁγνή, σκέποις.

Pure One, may you protect Michael Bouches, (metropolitan) of Methmyna.

Commentary

Methymna (Molybos), the second most important city of the island of Lesbos, is listed in the notitiae as an archbishopric; some time between 1072 (REB 18 [1960] 57) and 1084/1085 (ibid., 68), it was raised to the rank of metropolis, probably close to 1080. See Laurent, Corpus V/1, 622, 646; Fedalto, 213-15; Malamut, Iles, 232, 275, 356, 370.

The inscription consists of a twelve-syllable verse.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 2: South of the Balkans, the Islands, South of Asia Minor (Open in Zotero)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Les îles de l’empire byzantin: VIIIe-XIIe siècles (Open in Zotero)
  • Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis: Series episcoporum ecclesiarum christianarum orientalium (Open in Zotero)
  • Istoriceskoe znacenie italo-greceskoj ikonopisi: Izobra zenija Bogomatera v prozvedenijah italo-greceskih ikonopiscev i ih vlijanie na kompozicii nekotoryh proslavlennyh russkih ikon (Open in Zotero)
  • Sfragistika (Open in Zotero)
  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)