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The Virgin of Chrysopolis (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin holding the medallion of Christ before her. On either side the sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

ΣΦΡΑΓ,
ΤΗΣ.ΕΟ
.Ο.ΟΥ
.ΗΣΧΡ.
..ΠΟ..
.Σ..

Σφραγὶς τῆς Θεοτόκου τῆς Χρυσοπολιτίσης

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin holding the medallion of Christ before her. On either side the sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

ΣΦΡΑΓ,
ΤΗΣ.ΕΟ
.Ο.ΟΥ
.ΗΣΧΡ.
..ΠΟ..
.Σ..

Σφραγὶς τῆς Θεοτόκου τῆς Χρυσοπολιτίσης

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.2357
Diameter 25.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 3, no. 78.2.

Translation

Σφραγὶς τῆς Θεοτόκου τῆς Χρυσοπολιτίσης.

Seal of the (monastery of) the Theotokos Chrysopolitissa.

Commentary

This could be the seal of the monastery, called after its patron; but it could as well be the seal or talisman of an icon, struck to promote its cult (cf. N. Oikonomides, "The Holy Icon as an Asset," DOP 45 [1991] 42).

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient (Open in Zotero)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • La géographie ecclésiastique de l’empire byzantin, vol. 2, Les églises et les monastères des grands centres byzantins (Open in Zotero)