Niketas (metropolitan) of Seleukeia (eleventh century)
Obverse
The Mother of God standing with hands raised. Traces of the manus Dei in the upper left quarter. On the right, remains of the sigla and a vertical inscription: Θ̅Υ|ΣΟ|ΡΙ|ΤΙ|ΣΑ: [Μ(ήτη)ρ] Θ(εο)ῦ [ἡ Ἀγιο]σορίτισα. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, a cross above. Border of dots.
ΘΚ̅Ε,Θ,
ΝΙΚΙΤ
ΤΝΣΕΛ
ΕΥΚΕ̅Ι
Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικίτᾳ τῶν Σελευκεία(ς).
Obverse
The Mother of God standing with hands raised. Traces of the manus Dei in the upper left quarter. On the right, remains of the sigla and a vertical inscription: Θ̅Υ|ΣΟ|ΡΙ|ΤΙ|ΣΑ: [Μ(ήτη)ρ] Θ(εο)ῦ [ἡ Ἀγιο]σορίτισα. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, a cross above. Border of dots.
ΘΚ̅Ε,Θ,
ΝΙΚΙΤ
ΤΝΣΕΛ
ΕΥΚΕ̅Ι
Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικίτᾳ τῶν Σελευκεία(ς).
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.114 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 6.26; Laurent, Corpus 5.2, no. 1548. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει Νικίτᾳ τῶν Σελευκείας.
Mother of God, help Niketas (metropolitan) of the people of Seleukeia.
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)
- Sceaux byzantins des Musées d’Antioche et de Tarse (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This entry follows Laurent in assigning this seal and BZS.1958.106.30 to the metropolitanate of Seleukeia of Isauria (also called Seleukeia of Pamphylia in the Notitiae); but Seleukeia of Sidera cannot be ruled out. Neither seal specifies the office of the owner or distinguishes Seleukeia of Isauria (unlike BZS.1947.2.187), nor do they depict St. Thekla, as does the seal of the metropolitan Nikephoros, published by Cheynet (“Sceaux byzantins,” no. 68), who comments on the unmistakable affiliation.