John archbishop of Corinth (eleventh/twelfth century)
Obverse
Bust of St. Theodore holding a spear in his right hand and a shield in his left. Inscription in two columns: ο|θε|οδ|ρ|ο : Ὁ (ἅγιος) Θεόδ(ω)ρο(ς). Circular inscription within a double border of dots.
τνγραφνιαννου
τῶν γραφῶν Ἰωάννου
Reverse
Bust of St. Theodore holding a spear in his right hand. Circular inscription within a double border of dots.
.ημακοριν...
[σ]ῆμα Κορίν[θου]
Obverse
Bust of St. Theodore holding a spear in his right hand and a shield in his left. Inscription in two columns: ο|θε|οδ|ρ|ο : Ὁ (ἅγιος) Θεόδ(ω)ρο(ς). Circular inscription within a double border of dots.
τνγραφνιαννου
τῶν γραφῶν Ἰωάννου
Reverse
Bust of St. Theodore holding a spear in his right hand. Circular inscription within a double border of dots.
.ημακοριν...
[σ]ῆμα Κορίν[θου]
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.2029 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm; field: 22.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 97.1. See also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 1924. Parallel specimen published in Corinth XII, no. 2760 (εἰμι Κορίνθου) = Laurent, Corpus 5.1: no. 562. Cf. Konstantopoulos, Stamoules, no. 128 and A. Avramea et al., "Μολυβδόβουλλα με γνωστή προέλευση από τισ συλλογές του Νομισματικού Μουσείου Αθηνών," 250, no. 62δ (ἐκκλησίας Κορίνθου). |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Τῶν γραφῶν Ἰωάννου σῆμα Κορίνθου.
Sign of the writings of John of Corinth.
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)
- Corinth, Vol. 12, The Minor Objects (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Βυζαντιακὰ μολυβδόβουλλα. Ἡ συλλογὴ Ἀναστασίου Κ. Π. Σταμούλη (Open in Zotero)
- Μολυβδόβουλλα με γνωστή προέλευση από τις συλλογές του Νομισματικού Μουσείου Αθηνών (Open in Zotero)
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
A twelve-syllable verse.
On the specimen published by Avramea, at the beginning of the circular inscription on the reverse the letter C is clearly imprinted. It is preceded by a cross. Since no cross appears on the obverse it is possible that we are to understand our specimen to read Σῆμα Κορίνθου, etc. We are indebted to Werner Seibt for calling our attention to the resolution of the reading of this seal.
The seal is scyphate, suggesting that the dies were not imprinted simultaneously.