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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.

θεοτκεοηθει

Θεοτώκε βοήθει

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

μονη
στνσοφ
ρν..πατ
ρηκεινκ
ν..λ.
ν..ν

Μονῆς τῶν σοφρώνης πατρηκείων κῶν (sic) Ξυληνητῶν

Obverse

Seemingly a patriarchal cross on steps. Circular inscription beginning at 7 o'clock. Border of dots.

θεοτκεοηθει

Θεοτώκε βοήθει

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

μονη
στνσοφ
ρν..πατ
ρηκεινκ
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.

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.

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)