Adralestos (eleventh century)
Obverse
Inscription of five lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
γρα,
σραγ,ο
λογσ
αραλε
σ̣τ̣
γραφ(ὰς) σφραγ(ί)ζο (καὶ) λόγους Ἀδραλέστου
Obverse
Inscription of five lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
γρα,
σραγ,ο
λογσ
αραλε
σ̣τ̣
γραφ(ὰς) σφραγ(ί)ζο (καὶ) λόγους Ἀδραλέστου
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, the final line flanked by dots. Border of dots.
Π̣λατο
ν̣στου
τερεντι
ν
Πλάτονως τοῦ Τερεντίνου
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1967 |
---|---|
Diameter | 24.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 362. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
γραφὰς σφραγίζο καὶ λόγους Ἀδραλέστου. Πλάτονως τοῦ Τερεντίνου.
I seal the letters and correspondence of Adralestos. (Seal of) Plato (son of or from) Terentinos.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The obverse presents a correct twelve-syllable verse. The reading on the reverse, following Wassiliou-Seibt, poses problems. It is by no means clear that the first letter of the first line is Π (if indeed it is a letter at all), so that the restoration of the very rare name Plato is open to doubt (although no viable alternative leaps to mind); Wassiliou-Seibt proposed that the following τοῦ Τερεντίνου was a surname indicating the owner's ancestry or origins. According to this interpretation, the owner would be Plato Adralestos, a son or descendant of Terentinos or someone originating from that place (in Sicily).