Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)
Obverse
Standing figure of St Demetrios holding a spear and shield. Sigla on either side: ||ΗΜ|Η|ΤΡ,: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Δημήτρ(ιος). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
ΤΗΝΟΣ
ΣΡΑΓ,ΗΜ
ΤΗΝΓΡΑ,
ΛΕΠΓΝΟ
ΣΗ
οὗτηνος σφραγ(ίς) ἠμ(ι) τὴν γραφ(ὴν) βλέπ(ων) γνόσῃ
Obverse
Standing figure of St Demetrios holding a spear and shield. Sigla on either side: ||ΗΜ|Η|ΤΡ,: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Δημήτρ(ιος). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
ΤΗΝΟΣ
ΣΡΑΓ,ΗΜ
ΤΗΝΓΡΑ,
ΛΕΠΓΝΟ
ΣΗ
οὗτηνος σφραγ(ίς) ἠμ(ι) τὴν γραφ(ὴν) βλέπ(ων) γνόσῃ
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.378 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 22.0 mm; field: 16.0 mm |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
οὗτηνος σφραγίς ἠμι τὴν γραφὴν βλέπων γνόσῃ.
Know whosever seal I am by looking at the letter.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This (hyper)metrical inscription combines two seven-syllable hemistichs; listed by Wassiliou-Seibt in Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 1743, and E. McGeer, "Discordant verses on Byzantine metrical seals," SBS 4 (1995), 63-69.