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Anonymous (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

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

  
χησ
φργη.
λη
  

οὐχ ἡ σφραγή[ς], ἀλ(λ)᾽ἡ

Reverse

Inscription of three lines. Border of dots.

γρ
.ηΥ
.ηπν
τ

γρα[φ]ὴ δυ[λ]η πάντα

Obverse

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

  
χησ
φργη.
λη
  

οὐχ ἡ σφραγή[ς], ἀλ(λ)᾽ἡ

Reverse

Inscription of three lines. Border of dots.

γρ
.ηΥ
.ηπν
τ

γρα[φ]ὴ δυ[λ]η πάντα

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.2485
Diameter 16.0 mm; field: 13.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 1722.

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

Translation

οὐχ ἡ σφραγής, ἀλλ᾽ἡ γραφὴ δηλοῖ πάντα.

It is not the seal but the letter that will explain everything.

Commentary

Note that the verb δηλοῖ is rendered homophonically as ΔΥΛΗ in the inscription; we have restored the proper form in the resolved transcription.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)