Michael monk and archimandrite (eleventh century)
Obverse
A bust in a small medallion set at the crossing of an ornamental cross; in the quarters of the cross, a mostly effaced inscription: ..ΜΕ|..|η. . Circular inscription between two borders of dots.
. . .νεισηεο. . .
. . .νεισηεο. . .
Reverse
Inscription in five lines. Indeterminate border.
κΕ̅,θ,
.σ.λ
.ιχαηλα.
αρχημα
νδ..τ
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ μοναχῷ καὶ ἀρχιμανδρίτῃ
Obverse
A bust in a small medallion set at the crossing of an ornamental cross; in the quarters of the cross, a mostly effaced inscription: ..ΜΕ|..|η. . Circular inscription between two borders of dots.
. . .νεισηεο. . .
. . .νεισηεο. . .
Reverse
Inscription in five lines. Indeterminate border.
κΕ̅,θ,
.σ.λ
.ιχαηλα.
αρχημα
νδ..τ
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ μοναχῷ καὶ ἀρχιμανδρίτῃ
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.3073 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Laurent, Corpus V/2, no. 1306. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ μοναχῷ καὶ ἀρχιμανδρίτῃ.
Lord, help your servant Michael monk and archimandrite.
Bibliography
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
As the seal is quite weathered, the whole of the obverse is difficult to interpret, including the identification of the saints and the reading of the inscriptions. Additionally, the Α at the end of the third line may be an for βασιλικῷ, but this seems unlikely based on the remains of a letter to its right, and the likelihood of the pairing of "monk" with "archimandrite" versus "imperial archimandrite."