The imperial monastery of the Prodromos τῆς Εὐήμις (tenth/eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St. John Prodromos; details obscure. Inscription in two columns: |i̅|o..|.|m : Ὁ ἅ(γιος) Ἰω(άννης) ὁ [Πρ(ό)]δ[ρ(ο)]μ(ος). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, decoration below. Border of dots.
σφραγ,
τησ,μο
ν,τουπρο
ρομ,τησ
ε.ημισ
Σφραγ(ὶς) [τ]ῆς β(ασιλικῆς) μο[ν(ῆς) τ]οῦ Προ[δρ]όμ(ου) τῆς [Εὐ]ήμις
Obverse
Bust of St. John Prodromos; details obscure. Inscription in two columns: |i̅|o..|.|m : Ὁ ἅ(γιος) Ἰω(άννης) ὁ [Πρ(ό)]δ[ρ(ο)]μ(ος). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, decoration below. Border of dots.
σφραγ,
τησ,μο
ν,τουπρο
ρομ,τησ
ε.ημισ
Σφραγ(ὶς) [τ]ῆς β(ασιλικῆς) μο[ν(ῆς) τ]οῦ Προ[δρ]όμ(ου) τῆς [Εὐ]ήμις
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.5071 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 22.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 81.1a; Laurent, Corpus 5.3: no. 1944. See also Oikonomides, "The Concept of 'Holy War' and Two Tenth-Century Byzantine Ivories," p. 81, where the author cites a parallel specimen in the Athens Numismatic Museum, no. 673/91. Note that this seal has been edited jointly with the parallel from the same boulloterion listed below. |
Translation
Σφραγὶς τῆς βασιλικῆς μονῆς τοῦ Προδρόμου τῆς Εὐήμις.
Seal of the imperial monastery of the Prodromos τῆς Εὐήμις.
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)
- The Concept of “Holy War” and Two Tenth-Century Byzantine Ivories (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The existence of a μονὴ Εὐήμης is confirmed from an inscription on an ivory plaque in the procession of the church of San Francesco of Cortona. It is unclear what language lies behind Ε[ὐ]ήμις. The word does not seem to be related to Greek, Slavic, or Armenian.
It is possible, however, that the correct reading is Ἐ[ρ]ήμις, a variant of Ἐρεμίας/Ἠρημίας (see also BZS.1955.1.5070). But until a more complete example appears we prefer to keep the reading as E[ὐ]ήμις.