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Priests and ekklesiekdikoi (of Saint Sophia) (fourteenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Justinian (left) and the Mother of God (right) holding between them a model of the church of Saint Sophia, which offers a view within of a cross set on an altar. Inscription above the heads of Justinian and the Mother of God: ΗΑΓΙΑ : Ἡ Ἁγία; in center: ΣΟ|ΦΙ|Α : Σοφία; at left: ΙΟΥ|Ι|ΝΙ|Α|ΝΟΝ|ΔΕΣ|ΠΟΤ| : Ἰουστινιανὸν δεσπότην; and at right: ̅|ΘΥ̅|ΗΒ..|Θ|Ι|Α : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ – Ἡ Β[οή]θια. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines preceded by decoration. Border of dots.


τοισθε
οσεβεατο..
εσβυτερο..
καιεκκλη.
εκδικοι.

τοῖς θεοσεβεστάτο[ις] πρεσβυτέρο[ις] καὶ ἐκκλη[σ]εκδίκοι[ς]

Obverse

Justinian (left) and the Mother of God (right) holding between them a model of the church of Saint Sophia, which offers a view within of a cross set on an altar. Inscription above the heads of Justinian and the Mother of God: ΗΑΓΙΑ : Ἡ Ἁγία; in center: ΣΟ|ΦΙ|Α : Σοφία; at left: ΙΟΥ|Ι|ΝΙ|Α|ΝΟΝ|ΔΕΣ|ΠΟΤ| : Ἰουστινιανὸν δεσπότην; and at right: ̅|ΘΥ̅|ΗΒ..|Θ|Ι|Α : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ – Ἡ Β[οή]θια. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines preceded by decoration. Border of dots.


τοισθε
οσεβεατο..
εσβυτερο..
καιεκκλη.
εκδικοι.

τοῖς θεοσεβεστάτο[ις] πρεσβυτέρο[ις] καὶ ἐκκλη[σ]εκδίκοι[ς]

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.2932
Diameter 47.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 42.18. Illustrated in Oikonomides, Byzantine Lead Seals, no. 39.

Translation

τοῖς θεοσεβεστάτοις πρεσβυτέροις καὶ ἐκκλησεκδίκοις.

The most reverent priests and judges of Hagia Sophia.

Commentary

For a discussion of the ekklesiekdikoi, who formed a tribunal, operating out of Saint Sophia, and the iconography associated with their seals, see the brief introduction in DO Seals 5, pages 88–89, as well as J. Cotsonis, "The Virgin and Justinian on Seals of the Ekklesiekdikoi of Hagia Sophia."

There appears to be an accent mark on Σοφία on the obverse.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals (Open in Zotero)
  • The Virgin and Justinian on Seals of the Ekklesiekdikoi of Hagia Sophia (Open in Zotero)