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The monastery of (Christ) Philanthropos (twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God orans with a medallion of Christ on her chest. At left and right: ̅ΘΥ̅: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)[ῦ].

Reverse

Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.

σφραγ,
πεφυκε
μοστ
φιΛ̅Α̅Ν̅

Σφραγ(ὶς) πέφυκε μονῆς τοῦ Φιλαν(θρώπ)ου

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God orans with a medallion of Christ on her chest. At left and right: ̅ΘΥ̅: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)[ῦ].

Reverse

Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.

σφραγ,
πεφυκε
μοστ
φιΛ̅Α̅Ν̅

Σφραγ(ὶς) πέφυκε μονῆς τοῦ Φιλαν(θρώπ)ου

Accession number BZS.1958.106.437
Diameter 19.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 56.3b; Laurent, Corpus 5.3: no. 1908. See also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2742.

Translation

Σφραγὶς πέφυκε μονῆς τοῦ Φιλανθρώπου.

This is the seal of the monastery of the Philanthropos.

Commentary

Twelve-syllable verse.

The monastery of Christ Philanthropos, situated near the Blachernae Church, was founded by the empress Irene, the wife of Alexios I Komnenos: Janin, Églises: 525–27.

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)
  • La géographie ecclésiastique de l’empire byzantin, Vol. 1, Le siège de Constantinople et le patriarcat oecuménique, Pt. 3, Les églises et les monastères (Open in Zotero)
  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)