Theodore metropolitan of Laodikeia the Great (tenth/eleventh centuries)
Obverse
Inscription of three lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
Θ̅Κ̅Ε̅,Θ,
ΤΣ,
ΘΕΟ.
Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Θεοδώ[ρ(ῳ)]
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, a decoration above. Border of dots.
Μ̅Ρ̅ΟΠΟ⸊
ΤΗΛΑΟΔΙ
ΚΕΙΑΣΤˊ
μ(ητ)ροπολ(ί)τῃ Λαοδικείας τ(ῆς) Μ(ε)γ(άλης)
Obverse
Inscription of three lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
Θ̅Κ̅Ε̅,Θ,
ΤΣ,
ΘΕΟ.
Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Θεοδώ[ρ(ῳ)]
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, a decoration above. Border of dots.
Μ̅Ρ̅ΟΠΟ⸊
ΤΗΛΑΟΔΙ
ΚΕΙΑΣΤˊ
μ(ητ)ροπολ(ί)τῃ Λαοδικείας τ(ῆς) Μ(ε)γ(άλης)
| Accession number | BZS 1958.106.115 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19.0 mm; field: 16.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 12.1; Laurent, Corpus 5.2, no. 1550. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοδώρῳ μητροπολίτῃ Λαοδικείας τῆς Μεγάλης.
Mother of God, help your servant Theodore metropolitan of Laodikeia the Great.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Laodikeia is attested as a bishopric in the third century, but was raised to the rank of autocephalous metropolitanate in the year 459. After being lost to the Arabs in 640, Laodikeia was retaken by Nikephoros Phokas in 968 and remained in Byzantine control until 1084.
Laurent has noted that the epithet μεγάλη served to distinguish Laodikeia of Syria from the city of the same name located in Phrygia.