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

 
 

Obverse

The Mother of God (right) and Justinian (left), holding between them a model of the church of Saint Sophia. Inscription above and in center: ΗΑ|ΓΙΑ Σ|Ο|Φ|Ι|Α : Ἡ Ἁγία Σοφία. Invocative circular inscription at left, and circular inscription at rightΘΚ̅Ε̅ΟΗΘΕΙ : and: ΙΙΝΙΑΝΟΔΕΣ : Ἰουστινιανὸ(ν) δεσ(πότην)? Border of dots.

Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθει

Reverse

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

τοισθεο
σε
ε.τα
το..πρεσ
.τεροισ
...εκκλ.
..κδικ...

τοῖς θεοσεβε[σ]τάτο[ις] πρεσβ[υ]τέροις [καὶ] ἐκκλ[ησε]κδίκ[οις]

Obverse

The Mother of God (right) and Justinian (left), holding between them a model of the church of Saint Sophia. Inscription above and in center: ΗΑ|ΓΙΑ Σ|Ο|Φ|Ι|Α : Ἡ Ἁγία Σοφία. Invocative circular inscription at left, and circular inscription at rightΘΚ̅Ε̅ΟΗΘΕΙ : and: ΙΙΝΙΑΝΟΔΕΣ : Ἰουστινιανὸ(ν) δεσ(πότην)? Border of dots.

Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθει

Reverse

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

τοισθεο
σε
ε.τα
το..πρεσ
.τεροισ
...εκκλ.
..κδικ...

τοῖς θεοσεβε[σ]τάτο[ις] πρεσβ[υ]τέροις [καὶ] ἐκκλ[ησε]κδίκ[οις]

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.2934
Diameter 76.0 mm; field: 55.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 42.14; Laurent, Corpus 5.1: no. 112 (illustrated on pl. 16).

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τοῖς θεοσεβεστάτοις πρεσβυτέροις καὶ ἐκκλησεκδίκοις.

Mother of God, help the most reverent priests and judges of Hagia Sophia.

Commentary

See the commentary to BZS 1951.31.5.2933.

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)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • The Virgin and Justinian on Seals of the Ekklesiekdikoi of Hagia Sophia (Open in Zotero)