Makarios Tarchaneiotes (twelfth century, second half)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans, the medallion of Christ before her. Inscription on either side: ΜΡ̅ΘΥ̅: Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines, top line missing. Border of dots.
...
ΣΦΡΑΕΙ
Κ/ΓΡΑΦΑΣΚ/Π
ΡΑΚΤΑΙΑΚΟΣ
ΜΙΚΟΣΜΑΚ
ΑΡΙΟΣΤΑΡΧ
ΑΝΕΙΤ,
[ἐπι]σφραγίζει κ(αὶ) γραφὰς κ(αὶ) πρακταία κοσμικὸς Μακάριος Ταρχανειώτ(ης)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans, the medallion of Christ before her. Inscription on either side: ΜΡ̅ΘΥ̅: Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines, top line missing. Border of dots.
...
ΣΦΡΑΕΙ
Κ/ΓΡΑΦΑΣΚ/Π
ΡΑΚΤΑΙΑΚΟΣ
ΜΙΚΟΣΜΑΚ
ΑΡΙΟΣΤΑΡΧ
ΑΝΕΙΤ,
[ἐπι]σφραγίζει κ(αὶ) γραφὰς κ(αὶ) πρακταία κοσμικὸς Μακάριος Ταρχανειώτ(ης)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.2486 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2320 (with references to earlier editions). |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
ἐπισφραγίζει καὶ γραφὰς καὶ πρακταία κοσμικὸς Μακάριος Ταρχανειώτης.
The layman Makarios Tarchaneiotes seals both his letters and acts.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
It is not clear how κοσμικός should be understood in this inscription; it may mean "secular" or "of this world," to indicate that the owner is not a monk or priest (given that Makarios is a common name among monks), or it could perhaps be a homophonic error for κοσμικῶς, in the sense of "properly" or "in the right way." We have opted for the former meaning but with the awareness that the latter is also possible.