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Sabas monk (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin orans. Sigla: μρ̅θυ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription in four lines with cross above. Border of dots.


θυ̅̅
φοιλα
τεαχ
σααν

Θ(εο)ῦ Μῆ(τε)ρ φοίλατε (μον)αχ(ὸν) Σάβαν

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin orans. Sigla: μρ̅θυ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription in four lines with cross above. Border of dots.


θυ̅̅
φοιλα
τεαχ
σααν

Θ(εο)ῦ Μῆ(τε)ρ φοίλατε (μον)αχ(ὸν) Σάβαν

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.557
Diameter 21.0 mm; field: 17.0 mm
Previous Editions

Laurent, Corpus V/2, no. 1439; cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 931.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Θεοῦ μῆτερ φοίλατε μοναχὸν Σάβαν.

Mother of God, guard the monk Sabas.

Commentary

Dodecasyllabic.

Bibliography

  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)