Constantine (tenth century)
Obverse
Inscription of six lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
θεητ
οκουφρου
ρειμεπρεσ ̣
ιαισλογ
εαρχαγγ̣Ε
λ̣̣ντε
Θεητόκε φρούρει με πρεσβείαις, Λόγε, ἀρχαγγέλων τε
Obverse
Inscription of six lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
θεητ
οκουφρου
ρειμεπρεσ ̣
ιαισλογ
εαρχαγγ̣Ε
λ̣̣ντε
Θεητόκε φρούρει με πρεσβείαις, Λόγε, ἀρχαγγέλων τε
Reverse
In the center, a patriarchal cross mounted on a base of three steps. Pellets on either side, beneath the lower arm. Within concentric circles of dots, a circular inscription beginning with a cross at twelve o'clock:
σονλα......ν̣σ̣ταντινονα
σὸν λά[τριν Κω]νσταντῖνον. άμήν
Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4165 |
---|---|
Diameter | 28.0 mm; field: 24.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 871. |
Translation
Θεητόκε φρούρει με πρεσβείαις, Λόγε, ἀρχαγγέλων τε σὸν λάτριν Κωνσταντῖνον. άμήν
Word of God, protect me, Constantine, through the intercessions of the Mother of God and the archangels. Amen
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The seal, likely dating from the first half of the tenth century, presents an early example of a metrical verse expressing a prayer; the word ἀμήν concludes the prayer but is not part of the inscription.
Note the unusual form Θεητόκου in the first line of the obverse, perhaps a mistake, but as Wassiliou-Seibt argues, necessary for the metre.