Michael ... (twelfth century)
Obverse
St George standing at left, with his hands upraised towards the image of Christ above in the center. St Theodore is at right, making the same gesture of supplication. Both saints are in civilian garb. Inscription on either side of the image of Christ: ΙΣ̅ΧΣ̅ : Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Inscription in a column at left: |ΓΕ|.|Ρ|Γ|Ι|Ο : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γε[ώ]ργιο(ς). Inscription in column at right: |ΘΕ||Ρ|Ο, : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θε(ό)δωρο(ς). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines (last line illegible). A cross above. Border of dots.
ΧΕ̅ΣΥΝΤ̣Η̣
ΜΡΤΙΡΟΝ̣
ΣΡΑ̣Ι̣Σ̣ΚΕ̣
ΠΟ̣.ΜΙΧΑ.
.Π̣Λ̣...
Χ(ριστ)έ, σὺν τῇ μαρτιρον σοῦ <ξυωρίδι> ῥᾳδίως <σ>κέποις Μιχα[ὴλ] ..πλ...
Obverse
St George standing at left, with his hands upraised towards the image of Christ above in the center. St Theodore is at right, making the same gesture of supplication. Both saints are in civilian garb. Inscription on either side of the image of Christ: ΙΣ̅ΧΣ̅ : Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Inscription in a column at left: |ΓΕ|.|Ρ|Γ|Ι|Ο : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γε[ώ]ργιο(ς). Inscription in column at right: |ΘΕ||Ρ|Ο, : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θε(ό)δωρο(ς). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines (last line illegible). A cross above. Border of dots.
ΧΕ̅ΣΥΝΤ̣Η̣
ΜΡΤΙΡΟΝ̣
ΣΡΑ̣Ι̣Σ̣ΚΕ̣
ΠΟ̣.ΜΙΧΑ.
.Π̣Λ̣...
Χ(ριστ)έ, σὺν τῇ μαρτιρον σοῦ <ξυωρίδι> ῥᾳδίως <σ>κέποις Μιχα[ὴλ] ..πλ...
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.1535 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm |
| Condition | Cracked along the channel. |
Translation
Χριστέ, σὺν τῇ μαρτιρον σοῦ ξυωρίδι ῥᾳδίως σκέποις Μιχαὴλ ..πλ...
Christ, with your pair of martyrs, be quick to protect Michael ...
Commentary
In his unpublished catalogue of the Shaw collection, Laurent suggested that the engraver had omitted a word which would have completed the first of the two twelve-syllable verses making up the inscription. In keeping with the imagery on the obverse, he proposed inserting ξυνωρίδι after σοῦ. We have accepted this emendation. The second verse is incomplete and cannot be restored on the basis of the letters visible. The missing words would be made up of four syllables.