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Nicholas Moukoupeles (eleventh/twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St Nicholas offering a blessing with his right hand and holding the book in his left. Inscription in columns to both sides: |ΝΙ|Κ,ΛΑ|Ο: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικ(ό)λαο(ς). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription in seven lines. Border of dots.

.....
παντ,θε.
μοτατ,πρ,.
τατ,νικολα,
προστηθι
ΤΜΚ
ΠΕΛ

[ὡς διὰ] παντ[ὸς], θε[ρ]μότατε πρ(ο)[σ]τάτ(α), Νικολά(ῳ) πρόστηθι τῷ Μουκουπέλ(ῃ)

Obverse

Bust of St Nicholas offering a blessing with his right hand and holding the book in his left. Inscription in columns to both sides: |ΝΙ|Κ,ΛΑ|Ο: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικ(ό)λαο(ς). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription in seven lines. Border of dots.

.....
παντ,θε.
μοτατ,πρ,.
τατ,νικολα,
προστηθι
ΤΜΚ
ΠΕΛ

[ὡς διὰ] παντ[ὸς], θε[ρ]μότατε πρ(ο)[σ]τάτ(α), Νικολά(ῳ) πρόστηθι τῷ Μουκουπέλ(ῃ)

Accession number BZS.1947.2.1209
Diameter 17.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Laurent, Orghidan, no. 455. See also PBW : Nikolaos 20258.

Translation

ὡς διὰ παντὸς, θερμότατε προστάτα, Νικολάῳ πρόστηθι τῷ Μουκουπέλῃ.

For all time, most fervent champion, guard Nicholas Moukoupeles.

Commentary

The inscription consists of two dodecasyllabic verses. In his unpublished catalogue of the Shaw Collection, Laurent read the first line as εὐμαρῶς πάντα θειότατε προστάτα (Readily, O most divine guardian). However, in his publication of a parallel seal in the Orghidan collection, in which he refers to this seal, he instead transcribed the first line as given here, likely using the remnants of both seals to give the superior reading. Yet even there, he says that the first line, ὡς διὰ, is provisional, as only the Ω is present there.

Bibliography

  • Documents de sigillographie byzantine: La collection C. Orghidan (Open in Zotero)