John archbishop of Thabor (twelfth century)
Obverse
The Transfiguration. Christ appears between two standing figures, Moses and Elijah, who face Him. At a lower level, traces of the apostles; those on either side extend their arms, while the one in the center falls down. Traces of an inscription: .|MT|. : [ἡ] Μ(ε)τ(α[μ(όρφωσις)]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
Ι̅
ΕΛΕΘ̅Υ̅
Ρ,ΕΠΙΣΚ
.ΠΟ,Θ..
ΡΙΟΥ
Ἰω(άννης) ἐλέῳ Θ(εο)ῦ ἀρχ(ι)επίσκ[ο]πο(ς) Θα[βω]ρίου
Obverse
The Transfiguration. Christ appears between two standing figures, Moses and Elijah, who face Him. At a lower level, traces of the apostles; those on either side extend their arms, while the one in the center falls down. Traces of an inscription: .|MT|. : [ἡ] Μ(ε)τ(α[μ(όρφωσις)]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
Ι̅
ΕΛΕΘ̅Υ̅
Ρ,ΕΠΙΣΚ
.ΠΟ,Θ..
ΡΙΟΥ
Ἰω(άννης) ἐλέῳ Θ(εο)ῦ ἀρχ(ι)επίσκ[ο]πο(ς) Θα[βω]ρίου
| Accession number | BZS 1951.31.5.1726 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 26.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 18.1; Laurent 5.2: no. 1573. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Ἰωάννης ἐλέῳ Θεοῦ ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Θαβωρίου.
John, by the grace of God, archbishop of Thabor.
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)
- Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis: Series episcoporum ecclesiarum christianarum orientalium (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Little is known of the foundation and history of the bishopric of Mount Thabor, established on the site where according to tradition the Transfiguration had taken place: ODB 3:2004; Laurent, Corpus 5.2:404; list of prelates in Fedalto, HEO 2:1038.
Laurent proposed the reading μοναχῷ ἐπισκόπῳ but we prefer ἀρχιεπίσκοπος, as this was the true title of the prelate of Thabor; this reading was also proposed by Seibt, in BSl 35 (1974): 84.