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Nicholas imperial episkeptites, kourator, and oikonomos of the Great Church (ninth century, last third)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on four steps. Circular inscription, beginning at 7 o'clock, between a double border of dots.

κεοηθητσδουλ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

νικ
ολεπιS
πτητκουρS
οικοSομτ
ησμεγαλ
εκκλ

Νικολ(άῳ) β(ασιλικῷ) ἐπισ(κε)πτήτ(ῃ), κουρ(άτορι) (καὶ) οἰκο(κε)όμ(ῳ) τῆς Μεγάλ(ης) Ἐκκλ(ησίας)

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on four steps. Circular inscription, beginning at 7 o'clock, between a double border of dots.

κεοηθητσδουλ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

νικ
ολεπιS
πτητκουρS
οικοSομτ
ησμεγαλ
εκκλ

Νικολ(άῳ) β(ασιλικῷ) ἐπισ(κε)πτήτ(ῃ), κουρ(άτορι) (καὶ) οἰκο(κε)όμ(ῳ) τῆς Μεγάλ(ης) Ἐκκλ(ησίας)

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4923
Diameter 27.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 42.36; Laurent, Corpus 5.3: no. 1639.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νικολάῳ βασιλικῷ ἐπισκεπτήτῃ, κουράτορι καὶ οἰκοκεόμ(ῳ (sic) τῆς Μεγάλης Ἐκκλησίας.

Lord, help your servant Nicholas imperial episkeptites, kourator, and oikonomos of the Great Church.

Commentary

The design of the obverse, with a patriarchal cross on steps without fleurons rising from the base, typically indicates a dating to the final third of the ninth century.

Note the use of the abbreviation for καὶ (S) to represent the syllable κε in ἐπισκεπτήτῃ; the engraver also used it mistakenly in place of N in the word oikonomos.

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)