The diakonia of the procession of the Blachernae (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God, turned to the left, extending her arms before her. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines preceded by decoration. Border of dots.
τησδι
ακονιασ
τησυπο
στρ,φηστ
λαχερ
ν,
τῆς διακονίας τῆς ὑποστρ(ο)φῆς τ(ῶν) Βλαχερν(ῶν)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God, turned to the left, extending her arms before her. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines preceded by decoration. Border of dots.
τησδι
ακονιασ
τησυπο
στρ,φηστ
λαχερ
ν,
τῆς διακονίας τῆς ὑποστρ(ο)φῆς τ(ῶν) Βλαχερν(ῶν)
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.15 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 20.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 31.2a; Laurent, Corpus 5.2: no. 1203. A similar specimen is listed in Sig., 149. |
Translation
τῆς διακονίας τῆς ὑποστροφῆς τῶν Βλαχερνῶν.
(Seal of) the diakonia of the procession of the Blachernae.
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)
- Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The reverse is a fifteen-syllable verse. In Laurent's view, the seal attests a "service organized the return of the Blachernae of an imperial procession..." In our opinion it reflects the service's charitable activities on the occasion of a procession returning from a sanctuary or public building to the church of the Blachernae.