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Stephen archdeacon (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription in three lines. Border of dots.

ΣΦΡΑ
ΓΙΣΕ
ΑΙΑ

σφραγὶς βεβαία

Reverse

Inscription in four lines. Border of dots.

.ΤΕΦΑ
.ΟΥΑ.
ΧΙΔΙΑ
ΚΟΝ

[Σ]τεφά[ν]ου ἀ[ρ]χιδιακόνου

Obverse

Inscription in three lines. Border of dots.

ΣΦΡΑ
ΓΙΣΕ
ΑΙΑ

σφραγὶς βεβαία

Reverse

Inscription in four lines. Border of dots.

.ΤΕΦΑ
.ΟΥΑ.
ΧΙΔΙΑ
ΚΟΝ

[Σ]τεφά[ν]ου ἀ[ρ]χιδιακόνου

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.2338
Diameter 22.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Laurent, Corpus V/2, no. 1022. See also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2357a.

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

Translation

σφραγὶς βεβαία Στεφάνου ἀρχιδιακόνου.

The secure seal of the archdeacon Stephen.

Commentary

Originally a correct dodecasyllabic inscription but altered when the owner was raised from διάκονος to ἀρχιδιάκονος.

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)