Stephen metropolitan of Nikomedeia and synkellos (tenth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type VIII). In the quarters: ΤΣ|ΔΛ. Border of dots.
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
+Σ..ΦΑ
ΝΜΗΤΡΟ
ΛΙΤΗΝΙΚΟΜ.
ΔΕΙΑΣΚ,ΣΥ
ΓΚΕΛΛ
Σ[τε]φάνῳ μητρο[π(ο)]λίτῃ Νικομ[η]δείας κ(αὶ) συγκέλλῳ
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type VIII). In the quarters: ΤΣ|ΔΛ. Border of dots.
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
+Σ..ΦΑ
ΝΜΗΤΡΟ
ΛΙΤΗΝΙΚΟΜ.
ΔΕΙΑΣΚ,ΣΥ
ΓΚΕΛΛ
Σ[τε]φάνῳ μητρο[π(ο)]λίτῃ Νικομ[η]δείας κ(αὶ) συγκέλλῳ
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.871 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 22.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 83.8a. Cf. Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 378. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Στεφάνῳ μητροπολίτῃ Νικομηδείας καὶ συγκέλλῳ.
Lord, help your servant Stephen, metropolitan of Nikomedeia and synkellos.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Le livre du préfet; ou, L’édit de l’empereur Léon le Sage sur les corporations de Constantinople (Open in Zotero)
- Die Städte Kleinasiens im 7. und 8. Jahrhundert (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Laurent is undoubtedly correct that the owner of our bullae is Stephen of Nikomedeia, first attested in 975, synkellos in 976, who still occupied the throne in 997 and may have lived until 1011. He was an adversary of Symeon the New Theologian. See J. Darrouzès, in Dictionnaire de Spiritualité 4 (1961) 1514-1515.