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John monk and archbishop of all Bulgaria (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

The Virgin seated on a high-backed throne with a round cushion, holding medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: ΘΥ: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

ΘΚΕ,Θ,
ΤΣΔΛ,
.̅ΜΟΝΑΧ,
ΑΡΧΙΕΠ.Σ
ΚΠΠΑΣΗ
ΛΓΑΡ,

Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ) [Ἰ]ω(άννῃ) μοναχ(ῷ) (καὶ) ἀρχιεπ[ι]σκ(ό)πῳ πάση(ς) Βουλγαρ(ίας)

Obverse

The Virgin seated on a high-backed throne with a round cushion, holding medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: ΘΥ: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

ΘΚΕ,Θ,
ΤΣΔΛ,
.̅ΜΟΝΑΧ,
ΑΡΧΙΕΠ.Σ
ΚΠΠΑΣΗ
ΛΓΑΡ,

Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ) [Ἰ]ω(άννῃ) μοναχ(ῷ) (καὶ) ἀρχιεπ[ι]σκ(ό)πῳ πάση(ς) Βουλγαρ(ίας)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1035
Diameter 25.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 29.6b. See also Laurent, Corpus V/2, no. 1494 (reading corrected in Corpus V/3 no. 2016).

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ μοναχῷ καὶ ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ πάσης Βουλγαρίας.

Mother of God, help your servant John, monk and archbishop of all Bulgaria.

Commentary

See the commentary to the bettter preserved parallel specimen BZS 1958.106.5308 (linked to this entry).

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Der Patriarchat von Achrida; Geschichte und Urkunden (Open in Zotero)
  • Theophylacti Archridensis Opera (Open in Zotero)
  • Les duchés byzantins de Paristrion (Paradounavon) et de Bulgarie (Open in Zotero)
  • Bolgarija i Vizantija v XI-XII vv. (Open in Zotero)
  • L’évolution de l’organisation administrative de l’empire byzantin au XIe siècle (1025–1118) (Open in Zotero)