Anonymous (eleventh century, first half)
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin with a bust of Christ before her; her left hand does not appear, possibly a fragment of her right hand is holding Christ’s nimbus; possible remains of a circular inscription at the upper right along the border. Sigla partially preserved at right: Θ̅. : [Μ(ήτη)ρ] Θ(εο)[ῦ]. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Bust of St Theodore Stratelates, in military costume, holding a lance in his right hand; his left hand does not appear. Inscription in two columns: |ΘΕ|Ο,|Ο, – Σ̣Τ̣|Τ.̣ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θεόδ(ω)ρο(ς) [ὁ] Στ(ρα)τ[ηλ]ά(της). Border of dots.
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin with a bust of Christ before her; her left hand does not appear, possibly a fragment of her right hand is holding Christ’s nimbus; possible remains of a circular inscription at the upper right along the border. Sigla partially preserved at right: Θ̅. : [Μ(ήτη)ρ] Θ(εο)[ῦ]. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Bust of St Theodore Stratelates, in military costume, holding a lance in his right hand; his left hand does not appear. Inscription in two columns: |ΘΕ|Ο,|Ο, – Σ̣Τ̣|Τ.̣ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θεόδ(ω)ρο(ς) [ὁ] Στ(ρα)τ[ηλ]ά(της). Border of dots.
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.1910 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 21.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 7, no. 7.6. |
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 7: The Iconographic Seals (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This would be the earliest known example of Theodore with the epithet Stratelates on a seal. Among the published specimens the epithet appears in the eleventh century and later. Our seal corresponds to the period marking the beginning of the phenomenon of the “twinning” of the Saint and the separate identification of Theodore Stratelates and Theodore Teron. For discussion of the cult of the two Theodores and the sphragistic evidence as well, see Oikonomides, “Le dédoublement,” 327-335; Walter, Warrior Saints, 44-66; Cotsonis, “Contribution,” 451-456; Drpić, “The Serres Icon,” 646-652, 663-669 and 683-693; and Haldon, A Tale of Two Saints, 1-17.