Constantine Katharos, skeuophylax (twelfth century)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.1944 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Condition | Two halves. |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 27.6b; Laurent, Corpus 2: no. 672 (A). Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2960b. |
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans with a medallion of Christ on her breast. At left and right: ΜΡ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
σφραγισ
φυλακοσ
καθαρου
ΚΝΑΝ
ΤΙΝ
Σφραγὶς φύλακος Καθαροῦ Κωνσταντίνου
Translation
Σφραγὶς φύλακος Καθαροῦ Κωνσταντίνου.
The seal of the (skeuo)phylax Constantine Katharos.
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.1944 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Condition | Two halves. |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 27.6b; Laurent, Corpus 2: no. 672 (A). Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2960b. |
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden Teil 2: N - Sphragis
- 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
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin, vol. 2, L’administration centrale
- Actes de Lavra, vol. 1, Des origines à 1204
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.1944 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Condition | Two halves. |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 27.6b; Laurent, Corpus 2: no. 672 (A). Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2960b. |
Commentary
A twelve-syllable metrical inscription. In our opinion this seal is too late to be referring to the treasury of the Phylax, the last datable mention of which was a 1086 chrysobull of Alexios I Komnenos (Lavra, 259.51). This is particularly true if, as Laurent asserted, this Constantine Katharos is the same person who was active in September 1161. We believe that we are involved with a skeuophylax, a title that is presented for reasons of meter in a shortened form.