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Adralestos (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of five lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.

γρα,
σραγ,ο
λογσ
αραλε
σ̣τ̣

γραφ(ὰς) σφραγ(ί)ζο (καὶ) λόγους Ἀδραλέστου

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, the final line flanked by dots. Border of dots.

Π̣λατο
ν
̣στου
τερεντι
ν

Πλάτονως τοῦ Τερεντίνου

Obverse

Inscription of five lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.

γρα,
σραγ,ο
λογσ
αραλε
σ̣τ̣

γραφ(ὰς) σφραγ(ί)ζο (καὶ) λόγους Ἀδραλέστου

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, the final line flanked by dots. Border of dots.

Π̣λατο
ν
̣στου
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.

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).

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)