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John patriarch of Antioch (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of four lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.


Κ̅Ε̅Ο
ΕΙΤ
Λ
ΑΝΝΗ


Κ(ύρι)ε βο[ήθ]ει τῷ [σῷ] δούλῳ [Ἰω]άννῃ

Reverse

Inscription of four lines preceded by a decoration.


Π̅Ρ̅Ι̅ΑΡΧ
ΘΕΠΟ
ΣΜΕ
ΑΝΤ

π(ατ)ριάρχ[ῃ] Θεουπό[λε]ως Με[γάλ(ης)] Ἀντ[ιοχ(είας)]

Obverse

Inscription of four lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.


Κ̅Ε̅Ο
ΕΙΤ
Λ
ΑΝΝΗ


Κ(ύρι)ε βο[ήθ]ει τῷ [σῷ] δούλῳ [Ἰω]άννῃ

Reverse

Inscription of four lines preceded by a decoration.


Π̅Ρ̅Ι̅ΑΡΧ
ΘΕΠΟ
ΣΜΕ
ΑΝΤ

π(ατ)ριάρχ[ῃ] Θεουπό[λε]ως Με[γάλ(ης)] Ἀντ[ιοχ(είας)]

Accession number BZS 1947.2.41
Diameter 28.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 9.13; Laurent, Corpus 5.2, no. 1520 (listed as Coll. Shaw no. 1087).

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ πατριάρχῃ Θεουπόλεως Μεγάλης Ἀντιοχείας.

Lord, help your servant John patriarch of the Great Theoupolis Antioch.

Commentary

Laurent attributed this specimen to John IV, whose tenure as patriarch of Antioch is dated to the years 1056–57. The epigraphy, however, particularly the form of the omicron-upsilon ligature, favors an earlier date and the attribution of the seal to John III (4 October 996–July 1021; cf. Grumel, “Patriarcat,” 136). For other seals of this patriarch, see Laurent, Corpus 5.2: no. 1517 = Seyrig, nos. 233a, 233b.

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)
  • Le patriarcat et les patriarches d’Antioche sous la seconde domination byzantine, 969–1084 (Open in Zotero)
  • Les sceaux byzantins de la Collection Henri Seyrig (Open in Zotero)