Skip to Content

Stephen archdeacon (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription in three lines. Border of dots.

ΣΦΡ.
.ΙΣ.
.ΑΙ.

σφρ[αγ]ὶς β[εβ]αί[α]

Reverse

Inscription in four lines. Border of dots.

.ΤΕΦ.
.ΟΥΑ.
.ΙΔΙ.
.ΟΝ.

[Σ]τεφ[άν]ου ἀ[ρχ]ιδι[ακ]όν[ου]

Obverse

Inscription in three lines. Border of dots.

ΣΦΡ.
.ΙΣ.
.ΑΙ.

σφρ[αγ]ὶς β[εβ]αί[α]

Reverse

Inscription in four lines. Border of dots.

.ΤΕΦ.
.ΟΥΑ.
.ΙΔΙ.
.ΟΝ.

[Σ]τεφ[άν]ου ἀ[ρχ]ιδι[ακ]όν[ου]

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.2337
Diameter 21.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Laurent, Corpus V/2, no. 1022. See also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2357a.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

σφραγὶς βεβαία Στεφάνου ἀρχιδιακόνου.

The secure seal of the archdeacon Stephen.

Commentary

Dodecasyllabic. The original inscription was a correct twelve-syllable verse but was altered when the owner was promoted from διάκονος to ἀρχιδιάκονος.

Bibliography