Michael deacon (and nephew of the archbishop) of Anchialos (twelfth century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans with the medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines, cross above and below. Border of dots.
θκ̅ε̅οη
.ητσ
.μιχαηλευ
.ελιακο
.ττ
αγχιαλ
Θ(εοτό)κε βοή[θ]η τῷ σῷ δού[λ]ῳ Μιχαὴλ εὐ[τ]ελεῖ διακόνῳ τῷ τοῦ Ἀγχιάλου
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans with the medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines, cross above and below. Border of dots.
θκ̅ε̅οη
.ητσ
.μιχαηλευ
.ελιακο
.ττ
αγχιαλ
Θ(εοτό)κε βοή[θ]η τῷ σῷ δού[λ]ῳ Μιχαὴλ εὐ[τ]ελεῖ διακόνῳ τῷ τοῦ Ἀγχιάλου
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1359 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 31.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 96.1; Laurent, Corpus 5.2: no. 1046. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ εὐτελεῖ διακόνῳ τῷ τοῦ Ἀγχιάλου.
Mother of God, help your servant, the lowly deacon Michael, nephew of (the archbishop) of Anchialos.
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
The third visible letter on the fourth line is an episilon-iota ligature.
In his review of Laurent's Corpus des sceaux (BZ 61 [1968]: 129), Grumel reasonably suggested that this deacon might be the future patriarch Michael III (1170–1178).