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Anna nun and hegoumene of the monastery of the Emperors (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God (details indistinct). Sigla: Μ̅Ρ̅.. : Μ(ήτη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines preceded by decoration. Border of dots.


αννα
.Χ̅Sηγ
.ενˊμον
.ονδεσ
πο.

Ἄννα [(μον)α]χ(ὴ) (καὶ) ἡγου[μ]έν(η) μον(ῆς) [τ]ον Δεσπο[τ(ῶν)]

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God (details indistinct). Sigla: Μ̅Ρ̅.. : Μ(ήτη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines preceded by decoration. Border of dots.


αννα
.Χ̅Sηγ
.ενˊμον
.ονδεσ
πο.

Ἄννα [(μον)α]χ(ὴ) (καὶ) ἡγου[μ]έν(η) μον(ῆς) [τ]ον Δεσπο[τ(ῶν)]

Accession number BZS.1958.106.187
Diameter 25.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 41.1; Laurent, Corpus 5.2: no. 1147.

Translation

Ἄννα μοναχὴ καὶ ἡγουμένη μονῆς τον Δεσποτῶν.

Anna nun and hegoumene of the monastery of the Emperors.

Commentary

We know from Skylitzes (27.58) that a monastery of this name was the place where the widow of Leo the Armenian was imprisoned at the order of Michael II (820/21: μονὴ τῶν Δεσποτῶν). This monastery may well be the same.

Laurent incorrectly believed that a circular inscription is to be found along the border. He rightly observes that alternatively the final line of the inscription could be restored as μονῆς τῶν Δεσπο[ιν(ῶν)]. Either phraseology in his opinion should refer to an establishment founded by Maria of Amnia, wife of Constantine VI, and the site of her confinement in 795.

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)
  • Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis historiarum (Open in Zotero)