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Timotheos monk, imperial cleric and oikonomos of the monastery of the Oktaon (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God with her hands held palms outward before her. At left and right: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines (fith line missing) followed by decoration. Border of dots.


τιμοθ,
̅κλιρ,
κ,οικον,
μ,τ,μον,
.....

Τιμόθ(εος) (μον)αχ(ὸς), β(ασιλικὸς) κλιρ(ι)κ(ὸς) (καὶ) οἰκον(ό)μ(ος) τ(ῆς) μον(ῆς) [Ὀκτάου]

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God with her hands held palms outward before her. At left and right: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines (fith line missing) followed by decoration. Border of dots.


τιμοθ,
̅κλιρ,
κ,οικον,
μ,τ,μον,
.....

Τιμόθ(εος) (μον)αχ(ὸς), β(ασιλικὸς) κλιρ(ι)κ(ὸς) (καὶ) οἰκον(ό)μ(ος) τ(ῆς) μον(ῆς) [Ὀκτάου]

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1807
Diameter 25.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 85.1a.
Laurent, Corpus 5.1: no. 76 (with misreading).
Parallel specimen published by Zacos, Seals II, no. 768 (with misreading).

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

Translation

Τιμόθεος μοναχὸς, βασιλικὸς κλιρικὸς καὶ οἰκονόμος τῆς μονῆς Ὀκτάου.

Timotheos monk, imperial cleric and oikonomos of the monastery of the Oktaon.

Commentary

Line two on the reverse is complete, and allows the title of monk to be added to the reading of the Zacos specimen. The final line, missing here, is restored based on the parallel Dumbarton Oaks and Zacos specimens.

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)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)