Nicholas Leontares (thirteenth century)
Obverse
St. Nicholas standing and offering a blessing. Sigla: ο|α|γι|ονι|κο|λα|ο : Ὁ ἅγιος Νικόλαος. Thick linear border.
Obverse
St. Nicholas standing and offering a blessing. Sigla: ο|α|γι|ονι|κο|λα|ο : Ὁ ἅγιος Νικόλαος. Thick linear border.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines beginning with a cross. Line border.
ενδυπ
τυχωσετρι
σμακαρπε̅ργρ
αφωνικολαοσ
δλοσσοσλ
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.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)
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.