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Leo protoproedros and koiaistor (eleventh century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

The Virgin seated on a high throne, with the medallion of Christ in front of her. Sigla preserved at left: ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, with decoration above and below. Border of dots.

  
ΛΕΟΝΤ,
..ΝΥΝΗΤ,
.ΟΝΣΟΝΟΙΚΕ
ΤΗΝ ΕΔΡ
..ΟΙΑΙΣΤ,
.ΚΕΠΟ..
  

Λέοντ(α) [πα]νύμνητε, [τ]ὸν σὸν ὀικέτην (πρω)τ(προ(έδρῳ [(καὶ) κ]οιαίστωρι [σ]κέπο[ις]

Obverse

The Virgin seated on a high throne, with the medallion of Christ in front of her. Sigla preserved at left: ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, with decoration above and below. Border of dots.

  
ΛΕΟΝΤ,
..ΝΥΝΗΤ,
.ΟΝΣΟΝΟΙΚΕ
ΤΗΝ ΕΔΡ
..ΟΙΑΙΣΤ,
.ΚΕΠΟ..
  

Λέοντ(α) [πα]νύμνητε, [τ]ὸν σὸν ὀικέτην (πρω)τ(προ(έδρῳ [(καὶ) κ]οιαίστωρι [σ]κέπο[ις]

Accession number BZS.1958.106.243
Diameter 29.0 mm; field: 27.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 1260; see also PBW: Leon 20255.

Translation

Λέοντα, πανύμνητε, τὸν σὸν ὀικέτην πρωτοπροέδρῳ καὶ κοιαίστωρι σκέποις.

All-Hymned One, protect Leo, your servant, protoproedros and koiaistor.

Commentary

This two-line dodecasyllabic prayer is addressed to the Virgin ("O All-Hymned One"). There is a strange shift in case from the first line to the second. In the first line, Leo's name is in the accusative case: Λέοντα . . . τὸν σὸν ὀικέτην ("Leo, your servant"), yet in the second Leo's titles are given in the dative: πρωτοπροέδρῳ καὶ κοιαίστωρι ("Protopoedros and Quaestor"). This mistake can be ascribed to the die-cutter's attempt to combine two prefabricated inscriptions.