Skip to Content

John Taronites, sebastos (eleventh/twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God with her hands raised in prayer, the medallion of Christ before her. Inscription on either side: μ̅θυ̅ : Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εο)ῦ. Along the circumference, traces of a circular inscription: ΗΘΕΟΤ : ἡ Θεοτ[όκος ἁπλοῦσα]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, a cross above. Border of dots.


σποι
θμοι
̣σι̅
ατ
ταρνι
τ̣.

[Δέ]σποι[να], β(οή)θ(ει) μοι [τ]ῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Ἰω(άννῃ) [σε]βαστῷ τῷ Ταρωνίτ[ῃ]

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God with her hands raised in prayer, the medallion of Christ before her. Inscription on either side: μ̅θυ̅ : Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εο)ῦ. Along the circumference, traces of a circular inscription: ΗΘΕΟΤ : ἡ Θεοτ[όκος ἁπλοῦσα]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, a cross above. Border of dots.


σποι
θμοι
̣σι̅
ατ
ταρνι
τ̣.

[Δέ]σποι[να], β(οή)θ(ει) μοι [τ]ῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Ἰω(άννῃ) [σε]βαστῷ τῷ Ταρωνίτ[ῃ]

Accession number BZS.1947.2.1309
Diameter 25.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 610. See also Stratos Nikolaros, “Die Taronitai. Eine prosopographisch-sigillographische Studie,” Millennium 14 (2017), 227-291, no.18.

Translation

Δέσποινα, βοήθει μοι τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ σεβαστῷ τῷ Ταρωνίτῃ.

Lady, help me, your servant the sebastos John Taronites.

Commentary

The reading of this seal has been confirmed with reference to better preserved parallels. See PBW : Ioannes 20714.