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Nikephoros archbishop of Caesarea or of Calabria (?) (ninth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin holding a medallion of Christ before her. At right, a cruciform invocative monogram (partially imprinted). Wreath border.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Wreath border.

+νικ
φορ
επισ
κα
ια

Νικ[η]φόρῳ [ἀρχι]επισ[κόπ]ῳ Κα[ισαρ]ία[ς] or Κα[λαβρ]ία[ς]

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin holding a medallion of Christ before her. At right, a cruciform invocative monogram (partially imprinted). Wreath border.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Wreath border.

+νικ
φορ
επισ
κα
ια

Νικ[η]φόρῳ [ἀρχι]επισ[κόπ]ῳ Κα[ισαρ]ία[ς] or Κα[λαβρ]ία[ς]

Accession number BZS.1958.106.368
Diameter 38.0 mm; field: 29.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 79.2.

Laurent, Corpus V3, no. 1803; Zacos-Veglery, no. 1343.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει Νικηφόρῳ ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ Καισαρίας or Καλαβρίας.

Mother of God, help Nikephoros, archbishop of Caesarea/Calabria.

Commentary

There is no way of saying which restoration is correct, as both are equally possible: the metropolitan of Caesarea often used the title of archbishop on his seals and signatures. Zacos and Veglery restored Καλαβρίας, while Laurent remained in doubt and dated the seal to the end of the ninth century, a date that is too late in our opinion.

Bibliography