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Anonymous (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

The Mother of God enthroned, holding the medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: ̅θυ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.

  
ηεμη
ελπιστησ
σησσησραγ,
οσθεα
  

ἡ ἐμὴ ἐλπὶς ἡ τῆς σῆς σφραγδος θέα

Obverse

The Mother of God enthroned, holding the medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: ̅θυ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.

  
ηεμη
ελπιστησ
σησσησραγ,
οσθεα
  

ἡ ἐμὴ ἐλπὶς ἡ τῆς σῆς σφραγδος θέα

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1196
Diameter 22.0 mm; field: 19.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 843.

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

Translation

ἡ ἐμὴ ἐλπὶς ἡ τῆς σῆς σφραγῖδος θέα.

The sight of your seal (i.e. your image on the seal) is my hope.

Commentary

The seal is metrical but consists of thirteen syllables. Loosely translated ("the sight of you on the seal gives me my hope"), the inscription expresses the anonymous owner's piety towards the Mother of God.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)