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John protekdikos (twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

The Mother of God ("Stabbed with a knife") standing, holding the Child in front of her. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Mother of God. Epithet inscribed on either side: Η|Μ|Α|Χ|ΑΙΡΩ|ΘΕΙ|Σ|Α: ἡ Μαχαιρωθείσα. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription in four lines with decoration above. Border of dots.


ΙΟΥ
ΣΦΡΓΙΣΜ
ΤΠΡΤΕΚ
ΔΙΚΟΥ

Ἰωάννου σφράγισμα τοῦ πρωτεκδίκου

Obverse

The Mother of God ("Stabbed with a knife") standing, holding the Child in front of her. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Mother of God. Epithet inscribed on either side: Η|Μ|Α|Χ|ΑΙΡΩ|ΘΕΙ|Σ|Α: ἡ Μαχαιρωθείσα. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription in four lines with decoration above. Border of dots.


ΙΟΥ
ΣΦΡΓΙΣΜ
ΤΠΡΤΕΚ
ΔΙΚΟΥ

Ἰωάννου σφράγισμα τοῦ πρωτεκδίκου

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1248
Diameter 34.0 mm; field: 27.0 mm
Previous Editions

Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 109. Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 1072b.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Ἰωάννου σφράγισμα τοῦ πρωτεκδίκου.

Seal of John, protekdikos.

Commentary

Dodecasyllable. The type of the Virgin here depicted is discussed by Galavaris, "The Mother of God, 'Stabbed with a Knife'," and Seibt, "Die Darstellung der Theotokos," 45-46. Cf. Seyrig, no. 237, and BZS.1955.1.4995 (linked to this entry). The image copied on these seals was likely in Hagia Sophia, as were the offices of the individuals who place it on their seals indicate.

Bibliography

  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Les sceaux byzantins de la Collection Henri Seyrig (Open in Zotero)
  • Die Darstellung der Theotokos auf byzantinischen Bleisiegeln, besonders im 11. Jahrhundert (Open in Zotero)
  • The Mother of God, "Stabbed with a Knife" (Open in Zotero)
  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)