John domestikos of the Great Church (eighth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). Wreath border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει
Reverse
Inscription in four lines. Wreath border.
ιν
νομ
τ/ι εκκ
λισ
Ἰωάννου δομεστίκου τῆς ἱερᾶς Ἐκκλησίας
Accession number | BZS.1947.2.304 |
---|---|
Diameter | 24.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 138. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει Ἰωάννου δομεστίκου τῆς ἱερᾶς Ἐκκλησίας.
Theotokos, help. (Seal of) John domestikos of the holy Church.
Bibliography
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The beginning of the third line of the reverse inscription requires some interpretation. As there are abbreviation marks after both the Τ and the Ι, the reading of δομεστίκῳ is unlikely, especially because the Τ more likely indicates the definate article before Ἐκκλησίας. Instead, it has here been interpreted as "the holy Church," referring to either Hagia Sophia or Hagia Eirene in Constantinople, or to the church as a whole.