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Theodore or Theodosios bishop of Trebizond (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. Theodore (or Theodosios) wearing a cloak and holding a martyr's cross before him in his right hand. Inscription in two columns: ο|θε|ο-δ|ο : Ὁ (ἅγιος) Θεόδο(ρος) or Θεοδό(σιος). Circular inscription, beginning at seven o'clock. Border of dots.

..γεθεοδορετσδ

[Ἅ]γ(ι)ε Θεόδορε β(οήθει) τῷ σ(ῷ) δ(ούλῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a decoration below. Border of dots.

+θεο.
.επισ
..πτρα
.εζντ

Θεο[δ]ώ[ρ]ῳ (or Θεοδοσίῳ) ἐπισ[κό]πῳ Τρα[π]εζοῦντ(ος)

Obverse

Bust of St. Theodore (or Theodosios) wearing a cloak and holding a martyr's cross before him in his right hand. Inscription in two columns: ο|θε|ο-δ|ο : Ὁ (ἅγιος) Θεόδο(ρος) or Θεοδό(σιος). Circular inscription, beginning at seven o'clock. Border of dots.

..γεθεοδορετσδ

[Ἅ]γ(ι)ε Θεόδορε β(οήθει) τῷ σ(ῷ) δ(ούλῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a decoration below. Border of dots.

+θεο.
.επισ
..πτρα
.εζντ

Θεο[δ]ώ[ρ]ῳ (or Θεοδοσίῳ) ἐπισ[κό]πῳ Τρα[π]εζοῦντ(ος)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.3220
Diameter 21.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 39.3b.

V. Laurent, "Succession épiscopale," 84, 85 (= Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 661). A similar seal in the Vienna Collection, from a different boulloterion, was published by Laurent, "Succession épiscopale," 81-84 (= Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 660).

Translation

Ἅγιε Θεόδορε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοδώρῳ or Θεοδοσίῳ ἐπισκόπῳ Τραπεζοῦντος.

Saint Theodore, help your servant Theodore/Theodosios, bishop of Trebizond.

Commentary

This seal and BZS.1955.1.4683 come from the same boulloterion. The reading of this seal has been restored on the basis of its better preserved counterpart.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
  • Notitiae Episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae (Open in Zotero)
  • Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (Open in Zotero)
  • Die Städte Kleinasiens im 7. und 8. Jahrhundert (Open in Zotero)
  • Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos (Open in Zotero)
  • Eastern Turkey: An Architectural and Archaeological Survey (Open in Zotero)
  • Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis: Series episcoporum ecclesiarum christianarum orientalium (Open in Zotero)
  • La succession épiscopale du siège de Trébizond au Moyen Age (additions et corrections) (Open in Zotero)