The seal of the monastery of Pantanassa on the island of Glykeria (twelfth century)
Obverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
...ΑΓΙΣ
..ΝΑΝ
.ΑΝΤΑΝΑΣ
ΣΗΣΠΑΡ
ΘΕΝ
[σφρ]αγὶς [μο]ναστῶν [Π]αντανάσσης Παρθένου
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
ΗΝΓΛ.
ΚΕΡΙΑΣ
ΣΟΣΑΝΧ
ΔΕΣΠΟ
ΤΙΝ
ἥν Γλ[υ]κερίας νῆσος αὐχεῖ δεσπότιν
Obverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
...ΑΓΙΣ
..ΝΑΝ
.ΑΝΤΑΝΑΣ
ΣΗΣΠΑΡ
ΘΕΝ
[σφρ]αγὶς [μο]ναστῶν [Π]αντανάσσης Παρθένου
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
ΗΝΓΛ.
ΚΕΡΙΑΣ
ΣΟΣΑΝΧ
ΔΕΣΠΟ
ΤΙΝ
ἥν Γλ[υ]κερίας νῆσος αὐχεῖ δεσπότιν
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1493 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 63.1; Laurent, Corpus, V/2, no. 1293. See also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2645. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
σφραγὶς μοναστῶν Παντανάσσης Παρθένου ἥν Γλυκερίας νῆσος αὐχεῖ δεσπότιν.
The seal of the monks (of the monastery) of the Virgin Pantanassa whom the island of Glykeria proudly claims as sovereign.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- La géographie ecclésiastique de l’empire byzantin, vol. 2, Les églises et les monastères des grands centres byzantins (Open in Zotero)
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The monastery on the island of St. Glykeria, dedicated to the Virgin Pantanassa, was chosen by Leo V for the exile of St. Niketas of 815. It was re-founded in the eleventh century by a certain Gregory (maybe Taronites) and again by a certain Basil. The family of Zonaras had a special relationship with it in the twelfth century and had managed to have its properties confirmed by Manuel I Komnenos in 1158. See Janin, Grands centres, 56-57; Laurent, Corpus V/1, 209-210; and C. Mango, "Twelfth-Century Notices from Cod. Christ Church gr. 53," JÖB 42 (1992) 221-228.