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Photios cleric and kouboukleisios (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin with the medallion of Christ. Inscription to l. and r.: ΜΡΘΥ: Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Circular inscription within indeterminate border.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλ

Reverse

Inscription in four lines with decorations above and below. Border of dots.

·
ΩΤ
ΚΛΕΙΡΗΚΟ
ΚΟΥΟΥ
ΚΛΕΙΣΗ
·

Φωτήῳ κλειρηκό καὶ κουβουκλεισή

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin with the medallion of Christ. Inscription to l. and r.: ΜΡΘΥ: Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Circular inscription within indeterminate border.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλ

Reverse

Inscription in four lines with decorations above and below. Border of dots.

·
ΩΤ
ΚΛΕΙΡΗΚΟ
ΚΟΥΟΥ
ΚΛΕΙΣΗ
·

Φωτήῳ κλειρηκό καὶ κουβουκλεισή

Accession number BZS.1958.106.132
Diameter 26.0 mm; field: 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 181.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Φωτήῳ κλειρηκό καὶ κουβουκλεισήῳ.

Theotokos, help your servant Photios cleric and kouboukleisios.

Commentary

It is possible that the seal owner's name is Photeinos, as the gap in the top line of the reverse inscription is too large for any iota-sound other than an Η, a misspelling . However this iotacized spelling would be in line with the spelling of κλειρηκό, and thus the much more common name Photios is still the most likely reading of this seal.

Bibliography