Priests and ekklesiekdikoi (of Saint Sophia) (twelfth century)
Obverse
Justinian (left) and the Mother of God (right) holding between them a model of the church of Saint Sophia. Inscriptions visible in center: Σ|Ο|Φ|Ι|Α : [Ἡ Ἁγία] Σοφία; circular invocation visible at left: ΘΚΕΟΗΘΕΙ . Remains of circular inscription at right: ΑΝΟΔΕΣ : ['Ιουστινι]ανὸ(ν) δεσ(πότην)? Border of dots.
Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθει
Reverse
Inscription of six lines followed by decoration.
...ΙΣΘΕΟ
ΣΕΑΣΤΑ
ΤΟΙΣΠΡΕΣ
ΥΤΕΡΟΙΣ
ΚΑΙΕΚΚΛΗ
ΣΕΚΔΙΚΗ
τοῖς θεοσεβεστάτοις πρεσβυτέροις καὶ ἐκκλησεκδίκη(ς)
Obverse
Justinian (left) and the Mother of God (right) holding between them a model of the church of Saint Sophia. Inscriptions visible in center: Σ|Ο|Φ|Ι|Α : [Ἡ Ἁγία] Σοφία; circular invocation visible at left: ΘΚΕΟΗΘΕΙ . Remains of circular inscription at right: ΑΝΟΔΕΣ : ['Ιουστινι]ανὸ(ν) δεσ(πότην)? Border of dots.
Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθει
Reverse
Inscription of six lines followed by decoration.
...ΙΣΘΕΟ
ΣΕΑΣΤΑ
ΤΟΙΣΠΡΕΣ
ΥΤΕΡΟΙΣ
ΚΑΙΕΚΚΛΗ
ΣΕΚΔΙΚΗ
τοῖς θεοσεβεστάτοις πρεσβυτέροις καὶ ἐκκλησεκδίκη(ς)
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.2174 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 70.0 mm; field: 51.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 42.15; Laurent, Corpus 5.1: no. 112C (eleventh century, second half; illustrated on pl. 16). Parallel specimen in Gorny Auction 87, 2.3 (1998), 847. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τοῖς θεοσεβεστάτοις πρεσβυτέροις καὶ ἐκκλησεκδίκης.
Mother of God, help the most reverent priests and ekklesiekdikoi of Hagia Sophia.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- The Virgin and Justinian on Seals of the Ekklesiekdikoi of Hagia Sophia (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
For a discussion of the ekklesiekdikoi, who formed a tribunal, operating out of Saint Sophia, and the iconography associated with their seals, see the brief introduction in DO Seals 5, pages 88–89, as well as J. Cotsonis, "The Virgin and Justinian on Seals of the Ekklesiekdikoi of Hagia Sophia."
The lettering is very similar to Zacos, Seals II, nos. 69b and c.