Niketas bishop (twelfth century, second half)
Obverse
A saint-deacon, perhaps St. Stephen, holding a censer, and an object in his left hand (details unclear). The remnants of an illegible inscription are visible on either side. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription in four lines with decoration above. Linear border.
ΣΦΡΓΙΣ
ΝΙΚΗΤ
ΕΥΤΕΛ
ΕΠΙΣΚ,
σφραγὶς Νικήτα εὐτελοῦ[ς] ἐπισκ(όπου)
Obverse
A saint-deacon, perhaps St. Stephen, holding a censer, and an object in his left hand (details unclear). The remnants of an illegible inscription are visible on either side. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription in four lines with decoration above. Linear border.
ΣΦΡΓΙΣ
ΝΙΚΗΤ
ΕΥΤΕΛ
ΕΠΙΣΚ,
σφραγὶς Νικήτα εὐτελοῦ[ς] ἐπισκ(όπου)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.118 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 998; see also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 118. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
σφραγὶς Νικήτα εὐτελοῦς ἐπισκόπου.
Seal of the humble bishop Niketas.
Bibliography
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The reverse inscription is a dodecasyllable.