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Nicholas Leontares (thirteenth century)

 
 

Obverse

St. Nicholas standing and offering a blessing. Sigla: ο|α|γι|ονι|κο|λα|ο : Ὁ ἅγιος Νικόλαος. Thick linear border.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines beginning with a cross. Line border.

ενδυπ
τυχωσετρι
σμακαρπε̅ργρ
αφωνικολαοσ
δλοσσοσλ
εονταρισ

Ἐν δυπτύχῳ σε, τρισμάκαρ πάτερ, γράφω Νικόλαος δοῦλος σὸς Λεοντάρις

Obverse

St. Nicholas standing and offering a blessing. Sigla: ο|α|γι|ονι|κο|λα|ο : Ὁ ἅγιος Νικόλαος. Thick linear border.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines beginning with a cross. Line border.

ενδυπ
τυχωσετρι
σμακαρπε̅ργρ
αφωνικολαοσ
δλοσσοσλ
εονταρισ

Ἐν δυπτύχῳ σε, τρισμάκαρ πάτερ, γράφω Νικόλαος δοῦλος σὸς Λεοντάρις

Accession number BZS.1955.1.3862
Diameter 32.0 mm; field: 29.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 740.

Translation

Ἐν δυπτύχῳ σε, τρισμάκαρ πάτερ, γράφω Νικόλαος δοῦλος σὸς Λεοντάρις.

I, your servant Nicholas Leontares, inscribe you on my seal, thrice-blessèd father.

Commentary

Note the owner's use of the (metaphorical) term δίπτυχον ("two-sided") to refer to the seal.

The inscription is undoubtedly metrical, but it is unusual in beginning with two five-syllable hemistichs and concluding with two seven-syllable hemistichs. What is more, as Wassiliou-Seibt has noted, the third hemistich is one syllable short, unless we assume a haplography (the ος in Νικόλαος doubling as ὡς). The family name Leontares is well attested in the Palaiologan period.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)