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Monogrammatic Seal (sixth/seventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of a saint, likely the Virgin, nimbate, facing, but with details obscure. Sigla partially visible to l. and r.: Μήτηρ Θεο Before her, seemingly medallion of the Christ-child. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Monogram (?). Inscription around the circumference, seemingly in Latin (?). Indeterminate border around the inscription.

SIOB.MICS

Α. . . .siob.micus. . .?

Obverse

Bust of a saint, likely the Virgin, nimbate, facing, but with details obscure. Sigla partially visible to l. and r.: Μήτηρ Θεο Before her, seemingly medallion of the Christ-child. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Monogram (?). Inscription around the circumference, seemingly in Latin (?). Indeterminate border around the inscription.

SIOB.MICS

Α. . . .siob.micus. . .?

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.3597
Diameter 24.0 mm
Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

A. siob.micus. . .

?

Commentary

The reverse inscription around the circumference reads like nonsense Latin; it is unclear what it might say. The "monogram" in the middle of the reverse is essentially an Α with a cross attached to the top, and is also uninterpretable.