John Mankaphas, sebastos, originating from Rome (twelfth century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans with medallion of Christ. At left and right: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines preceded by a cross. Border of dots.
σφργισσε
α.μαγκαΦ
σιριανγε
νουσεχοντο.
εΞοχρ
μησ
σφρ[α]γὶς σεβαστ[οῦ] Μαγκάφους Ἰω(άννου) ῤίζαν γένους ἔχοντο[ς] ἐξόχου Ῥώμης
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans with medallion of Christ. At left and right: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines preceded by a cross. Border of dots.
σφργισσε
α.μαγκαΦ
σιριανγε
νουσεχοντο.
εΞοχρ
μησ
σφρ[α]γὶς σεβαστ[οῦ] Μαγκάφους Ἰω(άννου) ῤίζαν γένους ἔχοντο[ς] ἐξόχου Ῥώμης
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.413 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 34.0 mm; field: 30.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 109.1. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
σφραγὶς σεβαστοῦ Μαγκάφους Ἰωάννου ῤίζαν γένους ἔχοντος ἐξόχου Ῥώμης.
Seal of the sebastos John Mankaphas, who traces the roots of his splendid ancestry from Rome.
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
Two twelve-syllable verses.
DO Seals 5 originally published this specimen as belonging to John Manganes. In the commentary, it was noted that an anonymous reader suggested the name Mankaphas, with which W. Seibt, in his review of the volume (BZ 100 [2007]: 235), agrees. The remains of the last letter on the second line (reverse) appears rounded or even lunate in shape, rather than vertical. This precludes a nu, while phi seems more likely, especially given how rounded it appears on the first line.
The anonymous reader also suggested that the final word in the inscription might be ῥώμης (hence "family of extraordinary strength"). But the editors of DO Seals 5 preferred to retain the reading "Rome" since the alternative (while possible) seems uncharacteristically boastful.