Constantine Melissenos (twelfth century, second half)
Obverse
Mother of God standing. Sigla at left: ̅: Μή(τη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.
......
..Ν..ΜΕΤΟ̣
..Λ̣..Σ.Ν̣ΟΝΣΚ
Π̣Ο̣Ι̣Σ̣Ε̣ΥΕΡΓΕΤΙ̣
ΔΙΔΟΥΣΑΚΑΙ̣
ΠΛΑΤΟΣΙ̣
ΟΥ
[Κωνσταντι]ν[όν] με τὸ[ν Με]λ[ισ]σ[ι]νὸν σκ[έ]ποις Εὐεργέτι διδοῦσα καὶ πλάτος βίου
Obverse
Mother of God standing. Sigla at left: ̅: Μή(τη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.
......
..Ν..ΜΕΤΟ̣
..Λ̣..Σ.Ν̣ΟΝΣΚ
Π̣Ο̣Ι̣Σ̣Ε̣ΥΕΡΓΕΤΙ̣
ΔΙΔΟΥΣΑΚΑΙ̣
ΠΛΑΤΟΣΙ̣
ΟΥ
[Κωνσταντι]ν[όν] με τὸ[ν Με]λ[ισ]σ[ι]νὸν σκ[έ]ποις Εὐεργέτι διδοῦσα καὶ πλάτος βίου
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.3902 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 21.0 mm |
| Condition | Overstruck. |
| Previous Editions | Nesbitt, “Overstruck Seals,” no. 4; cf. Cheynet, Morrisson, and Seibt, Seyrig, no. 311; Schlumberger, Sigillographie, 680, no. 3; Laurent, Bulles métriques, no. 212; N. Veis, “Anagnoseis kai katataxeis byzantinon molybdoboullon,” Journal international d’archéologie numismatique 13 (1911): no. 28; Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 1189 (proposing that the owner of this seal is to be identified with the Constantine Melissenos attested as grammatikos in the bishopric of Nauplion and Argos in 1165-66). |
Translation
Κωνσταντινόν με τὸν Μελισσινὸν σκέποις Εὐεργέτι διδοῦσα καὶ πλάτος βίου.
Benefactress, may you protect me, Konstantinos Melissenos, while granting a long life.
Commentary
Two metrical inscriptions of twelve syllables each.