Theodoulos, monk and hegoumenos of Makros (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St. Theodoulos bearded, orans, wearing chlamys with decorated clasp. On either side: |ΘΕΔ: Ὁ ἅγιος Θεώδουλος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
ΚΕ̅,θ,
τσΔ
Θ̅̅δλ,Α̅Χ̅
Sηγεν
τουα
κρ
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεωδούλῳ μοναχῷ καὶ ἡγουμένῳ τοῦ Μακροῦ
Obverse
Bust of St. Theodoulos bearded, orans, wearing chlamys with decorated clasp. On either side: |ΘΕΔ: Ὁ ἅγιος Θεώδουλος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
ΚΕ̅,θ,
τσΔ
Θ̅̅δλ,Α̅Χ̅
Sηγεν
τουα
κρ
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεωδούλῳ μοναχῷ καὶ ἡγουμένῳ τοῦ Μακροῦ
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.104 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19.0 mm; field: 14.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 28.6. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεωδούλῳ μοναχῷ καὶ ἡγουμένῳ τοῦ Μακροῦ.
Lord, help your servant Theodoulos monachos and hegoumenos of Makros.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Actes de Xénophon (Open in Zotero)
- Actes du Prôtaton (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The attribution of this seal to the Athonite monastery tou Makrou is tentative because this institution is properly attested only from the thirteenth century on. See Xénophon, 215-16.
The peninsula of Mount Athos was a territory reserved for monks from the ninth century on. The origins and early history of the monastic community, which from the beginning was dedicated to the Virgin, are discussed by Denise Papachryssanthou in Prôtaton. The central administration, located in the town of Karyes, was supervised by an elected protos, who together with his council, also administrated communal properties, while the monasteries maintained their independence.