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.
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.
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)
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.