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Theophanes imperial cleric and priest of the Great Church (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. Michael holding a scepter in his right hand. Visible at right: X: [Μ(ι)]χ(αήλ). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Indeterminate border.

θεο
φαν,̅⸣κλ
ρικS,υ
...τησ
..λ,σια.

Θεοφάν(ης) β(ασιλικὸς) κλ[η]ρικ(ὸς) (καὶ) πρ(εσ)βύ[τερ(ος)] τῆς Μ(ε)γ(άλης) [Ἐκκ]λ(η)σί(α)ς

Obverse

Bust of St. Michael holding a scepter in his right hand. Visible at right: X: [Μ(ι)]χ(αήλ). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Indeterminate border.

θεο
φαν,̅⸣κλ
ρικS,υ
...τησ
..λ,σια.

Θεοφάν(ης) β(ασιλικὸς) κλ[η]ρικ(ὸς) (καὶ) πρ(εσ)βύ[τερ(ος)] τῆς Μ(ε)γ(άλης) [Ἐκκ]λ(η)σί(α)ς

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.3675
Diameter 18.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5, no. 42.40.
Laurent, Corpus 5.2: no. 1121.

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

Translation

Θεοφάνης βασιλικὸς κληρικὸς καὶ πρεσβύτερος τῆς Μεγάλης Ἐκκλησίας.

Theophanes, imperial cleric and priest of the Great Church.

Commentary

The present entry differs from DO Seals 5 in the reading of the final letter on the reverse. It appears to be rounded or lunate, and the suggestion here is that the final line should be read Λ,CIC: [Ἐκκ]λ(η)σί(α)ς.

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)