The diakonia of the Theotokos of the property of Verus (seventh/eighth century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God with Christ before her; at left and right, small crosses. Circular inscription, beginning at twelve o'clock, between a double border of dots:
..ε...ισθεοτοκ
[Ὑπ]ε[ραγ]ίας Θεοτόκ[ου]
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
δι
κονισ
τονβι
ροΥ
Διακονίας τον Βίρου
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God with Christ before her; at left and right, small crosses. Circular inscription, beginning at twelve o'clock, between a double border of dots:
..ε...ισθεοτοκ
[Ὑπ]ε[ραγ]ίας Θεοτόκ[ου]
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
δι
κονισ
τονβι
ροΥ
Διακονίας τον Βίρου
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.18 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 34.1d; Zacos–Veglery, no. 1127a; Laurent, Corpus 5.2: no. 1221. |
Translation
Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου Διακονίας τον Βίρου.
(Seal of) the diakonia of the most holy Theotokos of the properties of Verus.
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)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Synaxarium Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae, Propylaeum ad AASS Novembris (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The Βῆρος remembered on this seal may well the the Verus of legend who, like Zotikos and Sampson, supposedly left Rome in the time of Constantine the Great and purchased property in Constantinople that later became charitable institutions. See Syn. Eccl. CP., col. 359, line 42.
In Zacos–Veglery, no. 2099, we find a ninth-century seal of a Leo, cleric and chartoularios of the property of Verus.