Michael Bouches, (metropolitan) of Methymna (twelfth century)

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Accession number	BZS.1951.31.5.916
Diameter	24 mm
Condition	Corroded.
Previous Editions	DO Seals 2, no. 52.2. Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 806; see also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 214. Laurent lists two other specimens that are from the same boulloterion and illustrates one (from the Vienna Museum); Lihačev illustrates the other (IZIGI, pl. VI, no. 18; cf. Šandrovskaja, Sfragistika II, no. 803 = SBS 3 [1993] 162). Owing to the corrosion of the DO seal, these specimens have been used to confirm the reading.

Obverse

The Virgin standing, holding Christ. On either side part of an inscription visible: |Η|.|.ΘΥ̅|ΣΙ|.|..|..: Μήτηρ Θεοῦ ἡ Βασιώτισσα. No border visible.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a decoration above. Border of dots.

  
..ΧΗΝ
ΜΙΜΗΘΥ
ΣΑΓΝ.
ΣΚΕΠΟΙ

Βουχῆν Μιχαὴλ Μηθύμνης, Ἁγνή, σκέποις

Translation

Βουχῆν Μιχαὴλ Μηθύμνης, Ἁγνή, σκέποις.

Pure one, may you protect Michael Bouches, (metropolitan) of Methmyna.

Commentary

Dodecasyllabic.

Methymna (Molybos), the second most important city of the island of Lesbos, is listed in the notitiae as an archbishopric; some time between 1072 (REB 18 [1960] 57) and 1084/1085 (ibid., 68), it was raised to the rank of metropolis, probably close to 1080. See Laurent, Corpus V/1, 622, 646; Fedalto, 213-15; Malamut, Iles, 232, 275, 356, 370.

Accession number	BZS.1951.31.5.916
Diameter	24 mm
Condition	Corroded.
Previous Editions	DO Seals 2, no. 52.2. Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 806; see also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 214. Laurent lists two other specimens that are from the same boulloterion and illustrates one (from the Vienna Museum); Lihačev illustrates the other (IZIGI, pl. VI, no. 18; cf. Šandrovskaja, Sfragistika II, no. 803 = SBS 3 [1993] 162). Owing to the corrosion of the DO seal, these specimens have been used to confirm the reading.

Bibliography

Accession number	BZS.1951.31.5.916
Diameter	24 mm
Condition	Corroded.
Previous Editions	DO Seals 2, no. 52.2. Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 806; see also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 214. Laurent lists two other specimens that are from the same boulloterion and illustrates one (from the Vienna Museum); Lihačev illustrates the other (IZIGI, pl. VI, no. 18; cf. Šandrovskaja, Sfragistika II, no. 803 = SBS 3 [1993] 162). Owing to the corrosion of the DO seal, these specimens have been used to confirm the reading.

Notes

Accession number	BZS.1951.31.5.916
Diameter	24 mm
Condition	Corroded.
Previous Editions	DO Seals 2, no. 52.2. Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 806; see also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 214. Laurent lists two other specimens that are from the same boulloterion and illustrates one (from the Vienna Museum); Lihačev illustrates the other (IZIGI, pl. VI, no. 18; cf. Šandrovskaja, Sfragistika II, no. 803 = SBS 3 [1993] 162). Owing to the corrosion of the DO seal, these specimens have been used to confirm the reading.

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