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Stephanos (metropolitan) of Sardeis (twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin orans, the medallion of Christ before her. On either side the inscription: μ̅- ̅ : Μ(ήτηρ) [Θ(εοῦ)]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

+τον
..ρδεον
...φανον
.γνημε
σκεποισ

Τὸν [Σά]ρδεον [Στέ]φανον, [Ἁ]γνή, με σκέποις

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin orans, the medallion of Christ before her. On either side the inscription: μ̅- ̅ : Μ(ήτηρ) [Θ(εοῦ)]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

+τον
..ρδεον
...φανον
.γνημε
σκεποισ

Τὸν [Σά]ρδεον [Στέ]φανον, [Ἁ]γνή, με σκέποις

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1976
Diameter 23.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 3, no. 32.7.

Translation

Τὸν Σάρδεον Στέφανον, Ἁγνή, με σκέποις.

O Holy (Virgin), may you watch over me, Stephanos (the metropolitan) of Sardeis.

Commentary

The inscription is a twelve-syllable verse.

Sardeis (modern Sart), was capital of Lydia and seat of a metropolitan, attested since 325. The non-hellenic name appears on seals as well as in the notitiae in two main forms, the classical Σάρδεις, -εων, and the popular Σάρδη, ἦς, or non-declined Σάρδης (whenever in doubt, we have restored the classical form). From the seals we learn that it was also a fiscal center. See Laurent, Corpus V/1, 260-61 (add Zacos, Seals II, nos. 670, 869); Zgusta, 541-42; C. Foss, Byzantine and Turkish Sardis (Cambridge, Mass., 1976); Brandes, Städte, 86-88; ODB III, 1843.

Bibliography