Andrew pragmateutes (tenth century)
Obverse
Bust of a beardless saint. Circular inscription along the circumference: ΑΓΙΕΝ̣Ο̣Λ̣. .ΜΡΥΣΟΣΟ̣Ν̣. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
ΚΕΟΗ
ΘΕΙΤ,ΣΟΔ
ΑΝΔΡ,ΑΠΡ
ΑΜΑΤΕΥ
ΤΗ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τ(ῳ) σο δ(ούλῳ) Ἀνδρ(έ)ᾳ πραγματευτῇ
Obverse
Bust of a beardless saint. Circular inscription along the circumference: ΑΓΙΕΝ̣Ο̣Λ̣. .ΜΡΥΣΟΣΟ̣Ν̣. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
ΚΕΟΗ
ΘΕΙΤ,ΣΟΔ
ΑΝΔΡ,ΑΠΡ
ΑΜΑΤΕΥ
ΤΗ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τ(ῳ) σο δ(ούλῳ) Ἀνδρ(έ)ᾳ πραγματευτῇ
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1264 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῶ σο δούλῳ Ἀνδρέᾳ πραγματευτῇ.
Lord, help your servant, the merchant Andrew.
Commentary
The inscription on the obverse can be only partially restored: Ἅγιε ... σοσον. The name of the saint called upon to preserve the seal's owner cannot be reconstituted given the poor condition of the lettering.
On the seals of merchants, see now W. Seibt, "Some seals of Byzantine professional men," ΑΝΤΙΧΑΡΙΣΜΑΤΟΣ ΕΠΙΣΦΡΑΓΙΣΙΣ: A tribute to Prof. Ivan Jordanov on his 70th anniversary, Shumen 2019, 435-38.