N. . . . of Dekapolis (?) (eleventh century)
Obverse
Outline of a bust of the Mother of God holding a medallion of Christ before her. No sigla or epigraphy are visible. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
κε̅̅,θ,
τυ.ολ
πη.πτ
.δεκα
π
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) [. . .] τ(ῆς) Δεκαπ(όλεως)
Obverse
Outline of a bust of the Mother of God holding a medallion of Christ before her. No sigla or epigraphy are visible. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
κε̅̅,θ,
τυ.ολ
πη.πτ
.δεκα
π
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) [. . .] τ(ῆς) Δεκαπ(όλεως)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.3072 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 24.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 121.1. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει . . . τῆς Δεκαπόλεως.
Lord, help N. . . . of Dekapolis.
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)
Commentary
The letters ΔΕΚΑΠ are reasonably certain. Lines two and three are problematic. We could be dealing with a geographical location or with a member of the Dekapolites family.
The editors of DO Seals 5 suggested the office episkeptites based on a reading of line 3 of: ΠΗ.ΠΤ. In fact, the first letter appears to be a lambda and the third a nu. In addition, there may be another letter at the beginning of the line, possibly an epsilon. No solution presents itself, but episkeptites has been removed as a possibility in the present entry.
On the second line, there are alternative readings as well. The first letter, originally listed as a tau, could also be a kappa or chi. The fourth, listed as an omicron, appears to have a horizontal element, and is possibly a theta.