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Constantine Spondyles (eleventh century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God holding the medallion of Christ before her. Sigla on either side: ̅θυ̅: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

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

̣εσπο
ν̣ασζοι̣
σ̣πονυλ̣
κ̣νσταν
τ̣ινον̣
  

Δέσπο[ι]να, σῷζοι[ς] Σπονδύλ(ην) Κωνσταντῖνον

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God holding the medallion of Christ before her. Sigla on either side: ̅θυ̅: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

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

̣εσπο
ν̣ασζοι̣
σ̣πονυλ̣
κ̣νσταν
τ̣ινον̣
  

Δέσπο[ι]να, σῷζοι[ς] Σπονδύλ(ην) Κωνσταντῖνον

Accession number BZS.1955.1.3858
Diameter 25.0 mm
Previous Editions

Laurent, Bulles métriques, no. 101. See Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 627a, for all other editions.

Translation

Δέσποινα, σῷζοις Σπονδύλην Κωνσταντῖνον.

Lady, may you protect Constantine Spondyles.

Commentary

On this and other seals of the Spondyles family, see J.W. Nesbitt, "The seals of the Spondyles family," in Hypermachos. Studien zu Byzantinistik, Armenologie und Georgistik. Festschrift für Werner Seibt zum 65. Geburtstag, 249-256.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)
  • Les bulles métriques dans la sigillographie byzantine (Open in Zotero)