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Aimilianos metropolitan of Kyzikos (ninth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin holding the medallion before her. Cruciform monograms on either side (Type V on the left). Border of dots.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, beginning with a cross. Border of dots.

ΑΙΜΙ
ΛΙΑΝΜ
ΗΤ.ΟΠ /Κ
ΥΖΙ..

Αἰμιλιανῷ μητ[ρ]οπ(ολίτῃ) Κυζί[κου]

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin holding the medallion before her. Cruciform monograms on either side (Type V on the left). Border of dots.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, beginning with a cross. Border of dots.

ΑΙΜΙ
ΛΙΑΝΜ
ΗΤ.ΟΠ /Κ
ΥΖΙ..

Αἰμιλιανῷ μητ[ρ]οπ(ολίτῃ) Κυζί[κου]

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4800
Diameter 25.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 3, no. 53.1.
Laurent, Corpus, V/3, no. 1703.
Zacos-Veglery, no. 1326.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Αἰμιλιανῷ μητροπολίτῃ Κυζίκου.

Mother of God, help your servant Aimilianos metropolitan of Kyzikos.

Commentary

Both editors rightly ascribe the present specimen to Aimilianos the Confessor, a prelate who was exiled for his stand at the synod of 815 against the religious policies of Leo the Armenian.

Kyzikos (modern Balkız) was originally a bishopric of the eparchia of Asia, but in the second half of the IVth century it became the metropolis of the Hellespont. It is listed in all the notitiae until the XVth century. In 688-689 Cypriots were brought to inhabit the peninsula together with their archbishop (cf. DOSeals 2.38). See Laurent, Corpus, V/1, 246-47; Zgusta, 310; Brandes, Städte, 115-18; ODB II, 1164-65.

In addition the seals of this see published by Laurent, see also the bulla of Leo of Kyzikos published in Zacos, Seals II, no. 552; cf. also SBS 3 [1993] 186.

Bibliography