John Aidesimos, first chartoularios of the Nea Ekklesia (eleventh century)
Obverse
Inscription of four lines, preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.
τοναι
δεσιμον
εκγενουσ
ιαννην
τὸν Αἰδέσιμον ἐκ γένους Ἰωάννην
Obverse
Inscription of four lines, preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.
τοναι
δεσιμον
εκγενουσ
ιαννην
τὸν Αἰδέσιμον ἐκ γένους Ἰωάννην
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, preceded by decoration. Border of dots.
νεαστε
πρτον
χαρτλα
ρινγρα
φ
Νέας τε πρῶτον χαρτουλαρίων γράφω
Accession number | BZS.1958.106.5205 |
---|---|
Diameter | 19.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 48.2b. |
Translation
τὸν Αἰδέσιμον ἐκ γένους Ἰωάννην Νέας τε πρῶτον χαρτουλαρίων γράφω.
I have inscribed John, Aidesimos by descent and first chartoularios of the Nea.
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)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Two twelve-syllable verses. The reading has been restored with reference to the better preserved parallel from the same boulloterion: BZS 1958.106.5528.
The Nea Ekklesia was a sanctuary built in the Great Palace in 880 by Basil I and consecrated to the Mother of God, St. Elias, St. Michael, and St. Nicholas. The ceremony commemorating its inauguration was marked by a procession departing from the church of the Theotokos of the Pharos and leading to the Nea, where a liturgy was celebrated followed by a banquet in the Chrysotriklinos (Listes, 214; ODB 2:1146). By the twelfth century the church had become a monastery. From the fact that chartoularioi and oikonomoi were attached to the church we may infer that the church enjoyed revenues from extensive estates.