Nicholas (?) (eleventh century)
Obverse
Faintly preserved bust of the Archangel Michael; details indistinct. No inscription visible. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines; top line missing. A decoration below. Border of dots.
.ΟΝΥ
ΤΤΕΤΟ
ΟΝΟΙΚ
ΤΗΝ
[Νικόλα]ον φύ[λ]αττε τὸ[ν σ]ὸν οἰκ[έ]την
Obverse
Faintly preserved bust of the Archangel Michael; details indistinct. No inscription visible. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines; top line missing. A decoration below. Border of dots.
.ΟΝΥ
ΤΤΕΤΟ
ΟΝΟΙΚ
ΤΗΝ
[Νικόλα]ον φύ[λ]αττε τὸ[ν σ]ὸν οἰκ[έ]την
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.1498 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 21.0 mm |
| Condition | Cracked along the channel on the obverse. |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 1525. |
Translation
Νικόλαον φύλαττε τὸν σὸν οἰκέτην.
Protect your servant Nicholas.
Commentary
The blank was clearly much too small to carry the full inscription. To form a twelve-syllable metrical verse, the inscription requires a name of four syllables. We have read Nikolaos since the fragment of the first letter visible in the first full line of the inscription appears to be an alpha, but Andronikos is also possible.