Stephen cleric of St. Stephen's (twelfth century)
Obverse
Standing image of St Stephen; details indistinct. On either side, inscriptions in columns: |ΟΑ|ΓΙ|ΟΣ..|Α.|Τ.|.: ὁ ἅγιος [(Πρωτο)μ]ά[ρ]τ[υς]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
ΣΚΕΠΟΙΣ
ΕΑΝΟΝ
ΣΟΝΘΥΤ
ΕΑΝΙ
Τ̣̣
σκέποις Στέφανον σὸν θύτην Στεφανίτην
Obverse
Standing image of St Stephen; details indistinct. On either side, inscriptions in columns: |ΟΑ|ΓΙ|ΟΣ..|Α.|Τ.|.: ὁ ἅγιος [(Πρωτο)μ]ά[ρ]τ[υς]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
ΣΚΕΠΟΙΣ
ΕΑΝΟΝ
ΣΟΝΘΥΤ
ΕΑΝΙ
Τ̣̣
σκέποις Στέφανον σὸν θύτην Στεφανίτην
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.5049 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 24.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2200. |
Translation
σκέποις Στέφανον σὸν θύτην Στεφανίτην.
May you protect Stephen, cleric of St Stephen's.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
In her commentary Wassiliou-Seibt proposes that the final word of the inscription Στεφανίτης refers to a monastery dedicated to St Stephen (of which there were several in Constantinople and environs alone). The owner of the seal styles himself as θύτης, which we translate with the equally generic word "cleric."