Leo metropolitan of Chalcedon (eleventh century)
Obverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
+ΚΕ
ΟΗΘΕΙ
ΤΣΔ
ΛΛΕΟΝ
ΤΙ
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Λέοντι
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, a row of pellets above. Border of dots.
...
ΜΗΤΡΟ
ΠΟΛΙΤΗ
ΧΑΛΚΗΔΟ
ΝΟΣ
μητροπολίτῃ Χαλκηδόνος
Obverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
+ΚΕ
ΟΗΘΕΙ
ΤΣΔ
ΛΛΕΟΝ
ΤΙ
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Λέοντι
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, a row of pellets above. Border of dots.
...
ΜΗΤΡΟ
ΠΟΛΙΤΗ
ΧΑΛΚΗΔΟ
ΝΟΣ
μητροπολίτῃ Χαλκηδόνος
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4820 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 16.0 mm; field: 10.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 77.5. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Λέοντι μητροπολίτῃ Χαλκηδόνος.
Lord, help your servant Leo, metropolitan of Chalcedon.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- La géographie ecclésiastique de l’empire byzantin, vol. 2, Les églises et les monastères des grands centres byzantins (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Laurent assigned this seal to the famous Leo of Chalcedon, first attested in 1081, who was deposed in 1086 for his opposition to imperial confiscation of church gold and silver, and later reinstated in late 1094 or early 1095. This is possible. However, Zacos (Seals II, no. 553) published the 11th/12th-century seal of a Leo of Chalcedon which is iconographic, featuring the crucifixion on the obverse and St. Euphemia on the reverse. Would this be a seal of the same prelate after his reinstatement, as Laurent supposed? Or were there two 11th/12th-century metropolitans of Chalcedon named Leo?