(The monastery?) of the Ascension (eleventh/twelfth century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans with a medallion of Christ before her. At left and right: μ̅θ̅ : Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εοῦ). Border of dots.
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans with a medallion of Christ before her. At left and right: μ̅θ̅ : Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εοῦ). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of three lines followed by a decoration consisting of a colon and a horizontal bar. Border of dots.
ην
ληψη
σ
Ἡ Ἀλάληψης
Accession number | BZS.1958.106.479 |
---|---|
Diameter | 19.0 mm; field: 14.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 69.1c; Laurent, Corpus 5.3: no. 1898. |
Translation
Ἡ Ἀλάληψης.
The Ascension.
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)
Commentary
Although there is no specific mention here of a monastery, we may be reasonably sure that behind this seal is a sanctuary that memorializes in its name Christ's ascension into heaven.