The monastery ton Sophrones patrikion ton Xyliniton (tenth century)
Obverse
Seemingly a patriarchal cross on steps. Circular inscription beginning at 7 o'clock. Border of dots.
θεοτκεοηθει
Θεοτώκε βοήθει
Obverse
Seemingly a patriarchal cross on steps. Circular inscription beginning at 7 o'clock. Border of dots.
θεοτκεοηθει
Θεοτώκε βοήθει
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
μονη
στνσοφ
ρν..πατ
ρηκεινκ
ν..λ.
ν..ν
Μονῆς τῶν σοφρώνης πατρηκείων κῶν (sic) Ξυληνητῶν
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.3641 |
---|---|
Diameter | 24.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 3641; Laurent, Corpus 5.2: no. 1280. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Θεοτώκε βοήθει. Μονῆς τῶν σοφρώνης Πατρηκείων τῶν Ξυληνητῶν.
Mother of God, give thy aid. (Seal of) the monastery τῶν Σοφρώνης πατρικίων τῶν Ξυληνητῶν.
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
Laurent read the inscription on the reverse as follows: Μονῆς τῶν σοφρών[ων] πατρηκείων [τ]ῶν [κα]λ[λι]ν[ίκων]. The main problem with this reading concerns the final word. The editors of DO Seals 5 noted that the third letter of line five, following the nu, was not a kappa, as Laurent thought, but either a tau or lambda. W. Seibt (ΒΖ 100 [2007], 235), however, has corrected the reading of the final word, based on a parallel specimen, to Ξυληνητῶν. He furthermore suggests that Σοφρώνης may be connected to Σωφρόνιον in East-Thrace, in the region of Rhaidestos.
The final letter of the fourth line, which should be read as a tau (the beginning of τῶν), actually seems to be a kappa.