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(The monastery?) of the Ascension (eleventh/twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God orans with a medallion of Christ before her. At left and right: μ̅θ̅ : Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εοῦ). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of three lines followed by a decoration consisting of a colon and a horizontal bar. Border of dots.

ην
ληψη
σ

Ἡ Ἀνάληψης

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God orans with a medallion of Christ before her. At left and right: μ̅θ̅ : Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εοῦ). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of three lines followed by a decoration consisting of a colon and a horizontal bar. Border of dots.

ην
ληψη
σ

Ἡ Ἀνάληψης

Accession number BZS.1958.106.405
Diameter 20.0 mm; field: 13.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 69.1a; Laurent, Corpus 5.3: no. 1898.

Translation

Ἡ Ἀνάληψης.

The Ascension.

Commentary

Although there is no specific mention here of a monastery, we may be reasonably sure that behind the seal is a sanctuary that memorializes in its name Christ's ascension into heaven.

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)