Stephanos Maleas (or Stephanos of Maleas), vestarches (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God holding her hands before her chest, within border of dots. Sigla to either side: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Circular inscription surrounding within double border:
συνμριχεστεφανπρτθλ
σὺν μ(ητ)ρὶ, Χ(ριστ)έ, (καὶ) Στεφάνῳ πρωτ(α)θλ(ητῇ) ὧ
Reverse
Bust of St. Stephen holding the martyr's cross. Sigla on either side: στεφανοσο, : ὁ (ἅγιος) Στέφανος ὁ (πρωτομάρτυς?). Between a double border of dots:
σκεπ,στεφανονεσταρχ,τμαλεα̣
σκέπ(ε) Στέφανον βεστάρχ(ην) τοῦ Μαλέα
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God holding her hands before her chest, within border of dots. Sigla to either side: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Circular inscription surrounding within double border:
συνμριχεστεφανπρτθλ
σὺν μ(ητ)ρὶ, Χ(ριστ)έ, (καὶ) Στεφάνῳ πρωτ(α)θλ(ητῇ) ὧ
Reverse
Bust of St. Stephen holding the martyr's cross. Sigla on either side: στεφανοσο, : ὁ (ἅγιος) Στέφανος ὁ (πρωτομάρτυς?). Between a double border of dots:
σκεπ,στεφανονεσταρχ,τμαλεα̣
σκέπ(ε) Στέφανον βεστάρχ(ην) τοῦ Μαλέα
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.3977 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 23.0 mm; field: 17.0 mm |
Translation
σὺν μητρὶ, Χριστέ, καὶ Στεφάνῳ πρωταθλητῇ ὧ σκέπε Στέφανον βεστάρχην τοῦ Μαλέα.
O Christ, with your Mother and Stephen the first of the martyrs, shelter Stephanos (of?) Maleas, vestarches.
Commentary
The inscription appears to be metrical in intent, if not in realisation, and should be added to the corpus of metrical seals compiled by Wassiliou-Seibt. The reverse contains a correct twelve-syllable verse, but the obverse inscription contains too many syllables. The placement of the omega at the end of the obverse inscription is also problematic.