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Marinos sebastos (eleventh century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

Two standing saints. The figure on the left is St Ianouarios. Sigla in a column: .ν||α|ρ|ι|οσ : [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Ἰα]νουάριος. The figure on the right is a military saint holding a spear and shield, but the sigla are too indistinct to permit identification. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a cross above and a decoration below. Border of dots.


σφραγισ̣
σφραγι
τασεαστ
μαριν


σφραγὶς σφραγίζω τὰ σεβαστοῦ Μαρίνου

Obverse

Two standing saints. The figure on the left is St Ianouarios. Sigla in a column: .ν||α|ρ|ι|οσ : [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Ἰα]νουάριος. The figure on the right is a military saint holding a spear and shield, but the sigla are too indistinct to permit identification. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a cross above and a decoration below. Border of dots.


σφραγισ̣
σφραγι
τασεαστ
μαριν


σφραγὶς σφραγίζω τὰ σεβαστοῦ Μαρίνου

Accession number BZS.1947.2.1186
Diameter 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2912.

Translation

σφραγὶς σφραγίζω τὰ σεβαστοῦ Μαρίνου.

As a seal I seal the correspondence of the sebastos Marinos.

Commentary

The owner of this seal has been identified as the sebastos Marinos Neapolites, a name indicating his origins in Naples, but whose family name was in fact Maistromiles. He was a loyal supporter of Alexios I Komnenos and took part in the negotiation and signing of the Treaty of Devol in 1108. The very rare appearance of St Ianouarios on the obverse may be explained by his status as the patron saint of Naples. See the commentary to Wassiliou-Seibt's edition cited in this entry (with further bibliography).

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)