Xene Nestongissa, nun (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin with medallion. Inscription: ΜΡ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Inscription in three lines. Border of dots.
ενη
ητνε
στογγ
Χένῃ μοναχῇ τοῦ Νεστόγγου
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin with medallion. Inscription: ΜΡ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Inscription in three lines. Border of dots.
ενη
ητνε
στογγ
Χένῃ μοναχῇ τοῦ Νεστόγγου
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.1935 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 24.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Laurent, Corpus V/3, no. 2014. Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 1541. |
Translation
Χένῃ μοναχῇ τῇ τοῦ Νεστόγγου.
The nun Xene of the Nestongos.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
According to Wassiliou-Seibt, the owner of this seal will likely have been the daughter of the last Bulgarian ruler of Sirmion (killed during a siege led by Constantine Diogenes, father of the emperor Romanos Diogenes) whose family was subsequently brought to Constantinople. See also Laurent's publication for further discussion of the Nestongos family and this individual's place within it.
The prosaic inscription appears to consist of two five-syllable hemistichs and is therefore classed as a metrical seal.