George cleric of Eleïmon (tenth/eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St. Nicholas blessing with his right hand and holding a book, decorated with pellets, in his left. Inscription in two columns: |ν|ηκ|ο|λ: Ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νηκόλ(αος). Along the circumference, beginning at 9 o'clock, a circular invocative inscription. No visible border.
γιετ..οη.η
Ἅγιε τοῦ [Θ(εο)ῦ] βοή[θ]η
Obverse
Bust of St. Nicholas blessing with his right hand and holding a book, decorated with pellets, in his left. Inscription in two columns: |ν|ηκ|ο|λ: Ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νηκόλ(αος). Along the circumference, beginning at 9 o'clock, a circular invocative inscription. No visible border.
γιετ..οη.η
Ἅγιε τοῦ [Θ(εο)ῦ] βοή[θ]η
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. No visible border.
τσ
ˋγε
.γηοκλ
ηρικοελ
ειμον
τῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Γεω[ρ]γήο κληρικο Ἑλεΐμον(ος)
Accession number | BZS.1958.106.2002 |
---|---|
Diameter | 18.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 5, no. 74.1. |
Translation
Ἅγιε τοῦ Θεοῦ βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Γεωργήο κληρικο Ἑλεΐμονος.
Holy man of God, help your servant George, cleric of Eleïmon.
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)
Commentary
It appears that the seal attests a church of (St. Nicholas) ὁ Ἐλε(ή)μων. Although one would have expected the name of the institution to be preceded by the definite article, this reading seems preferable to the alternative that George identifies himself as "merciful," with the final word as ἐλε(ή)μον(ι).