Nicholas Moukoupeles (eleventh/twelfth century)
Obverse
Bust of St Nicholas offering a blessing with his right hand and holding the book in his left. Inscription in columns to both sides: |ΝΙ|Κ,ΛΑ|Ο: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικ(ό)λαο(ς). Border of dots.
Obverse
Bust of St Nicholas offering a blessing with his right hand and holding the book in his left. Inscription in columns to both sides: |ΝΙ|Κ,ΛΑ|Ο: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικ(ό)λαο(ς). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription in seven lines. Border of dots.
.....
παντ,θε.
μοτατ,πρ,.
τατ,νικολα,
προστηθι
ΤΜΚ
ΠΕΛ
[ὡς διὰ] παντ[ὸς], θε[ρ]μότατε πρ(ο)[σ]τάτ(α), Νικολά(ῳ) πρόστηθι τῷ Μουκουπέλ(ῃ)
Accession number | BZS.1947.2.1209 |
---|---|
Diameter | 17.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Cf. Laurent, Orghidan, no. 455. See also PBW : Nikolaos 20258. |
Translation
ὡς διὰ παντὸς, θερμότατε προστάτα, Νικολάῳ πρόστηθι τῷ Μουκουπέλῃ.
For all time, most fervent champion, guard Nicholas Moukoupeles.
Bibliography
- Documents de sigillographie byzantine: La collection C. Orghidan (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The inscription consists of two dodecasyllabic verses. In his unpublished catalogue of the Shaw Collection, Laurent read the first line as εὐμαρῶς πάντα θειότατε προστάτα (Readily, O most divine guardian). However, in his publication of a parallel seal in the Orghidan collection, in which he refers to this seal, he instead transcribed the first line as given here, likely using the remnants of both seals to give the superior reading. Yet even there, he says that the first line, ὡς διὰ, is provisional, as only the Ω is present there.