The imperial monastery of the Prodromos τῆς Εὐήμις (tenth/eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St. John Prodromos; details obscure. Inscription in two columns: |ι̅|ο..|.|μ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) [Ἰ]ω(άννης) [ὁ Πρ(ό)]δ[ρ(ο)]μ(ος). Border of dots.
Obverse
Bust of St. John Prodromos; details obscure. Inscription in two columns: |ι̅|ο..|.|μ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) [Ἰ]ω(άννης) [ὁ Πρ(ό)]δ[ρ(ο)]μ(ος). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, decoration below. Border of dots.
σφραγ,
τησ,μο
ν,τουπρο
ρομ,τησ
ε.ημισ
σφραγ(ὶς) τῆς β(ασιλικῆς) μ[ο]ν(ῆς) τοῦ Πρ[ο]δρόμ(ου) τῆς Ε[ὐ]ήμις
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.978 |
---|---|
Diameter | 22.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 81.1b; Laurent, Corpus 5.2: no. 1285 (with misreading; wrong accession number); N. Oikonomides, "The Concept of 'Holy War' and Two Tenth-Century Byzantine Ivories," p. 81. Oikonomides noted a parallel specimen in the Athens Numismatic Museum, no. 673/91. The reading of this seal has been restored with reference to its counterpart from the same boulloterion (linked to this entry). |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
σφραγὶς τῆς βασιλικῆς μονῆς τοῦ Προδρόμου τῆς Εὐήμις.
Seal of the imperial monastery of the Prodromos τῆς Εὐήμις.
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 Concept of “Holy War” and Two Tenth-Century Byzantine Ivories (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The existence of a μονὴ Εὐήμης is confirmed from an inscription on an ivory plaque in the procession of the church of San Francesco of Cortona. It is unclear what language lies behind Ε[ὐ]ήμις. The word does not seem to be related to Greek, Slavic, or Armenian.
It is possible, however, that the correct reading is Ἐ[ρ]ήμις, a variant of Ἐρεμίας/Ἠρημίας (see also BZS.1955.1.5070). Until a more complete example appears we prefer to keep the reading as E[ὐ]ήμις.