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Mavrikios . . . (?) (sixth century)

 
 

Obverse

Block monogram. No visible border.

 - ι - κ - μ - ο - ρ -  - υ

Μαυρικίου

Reverse

Block monogram. No visible border.

δ - θ - ε - ι - λ - μ - ο - π - ρ - σ - υ - ω

?

Obverse

Block monogram. No visible border.

 - ι - κ - μ - ο - ρ -  - υ

Μαυρικίου

Reverse

Block monogram. No visible border.

δ - θ - ε - ι - λ - μ - ο - π - ρ - σ - υ - ω

?

Accession number BZS.1955.1.38
Diameter 15.0 mm

Translation

Μαυρικίου . . .

(Seal of) Mavrikios. . .

Commentary

This seal's has been incredibly hesitatingly identified as Μαυρικίου, while the reverse remains unresolvable; it likely contains a compound, probably containing Θεοδόρου (Theodore) or possibly Δημητρίου (Demetrios) or even Δημητριόλου (Demetriolos). What makes this seal strange and nearly impossible to correctly interpret is its unique orientation: there is no clear top and bottom of either monogram, as for example on the obverse, either the ο and υ (rendering the υ into a Λ) generally found at the top of monograms are at the bottom and the α is upside-down, which would be very strange indeed, or the σ, κ, and μ are upside-down. The reverse is even stranger, as the lack of clarity in the vertical axis makes it difficult to determine whether on the opposite side of the ο and υ is an ω or a μ, etc. Additionally, what looks like a Δ in the middle is likely actually a θ, worn away.