Maurianos . . . (seventh century)

Commentary

The obverse monogram of this seal is particularly strange and difficult to read. It seems to be Latin. Zacos reads it as MAVRIANI, though this does not seem to hold as there is no A or V, and the bottom letter seems to be a J (Latin "G") or a S under a T symbolizing καὶ. It may be a title, such as grammatico, though there is no A, seemingly no C, the T is uncertain, and the O would have to be found in the loop of the R. Perhaps the most likely reading is to utilize the bottom symbol as a S (for καi), making the obverse of the seal read "Χ(ριστ)ὲ ὁ Θ(εὸ)ς βοήθη Martino καi" (or a different Latinate name in the dative). In that case, this is actually the seal of two men, Maurikios and some other, e.g. Martinus. It is unclear why one name would be a Latin monogram and the other would be a Greek inscription. Perhaps Zacos may have had the right idea.