Theophilos (ca. 838–40)
Obverse
Largely destroyed, but one may reasonably assert that the center was decorated with a cross potent on steps, since one can still discern at the termination of the central crossbar at right. Traces of a circular inscription at right. No visible border.
. . . VVSA. . .
[En onom(ati) tu patr(os) (καὶ)] tu y(io)u (καὶ) tu a[g(iu) pne(umatos)]?
Obverse
Largely destroyed, but one may reasonably assert that the center was decorated with a cross potent on steps, since one can still discern at the termination of the central crossbar at right. Traces of a circular inscription at right. No visible border.
. . . VVSA. . .
[En onom(ati) tu patr(os) (καὶ)] tu y(io)u (καὶ) tu a[g(iu) pne(umatos)]?
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
Θ....
LOSE.ΘE
PISOS
SILESR.
AIO
Θ[eofi]los e[c] Θe(o)u pistos basileus R[o]maion.
Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4282 (formerly DO 55.1.4282) |
---|---|
Diameter | 32.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 46.1; Zacos–Veglery, no. 53. |
Translation
En onomati tu patros καὶ tu yiou καὶ tu agiu pneumatos Θeofilos ec Θeou pistos basileus Romaion.
Theophilos, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, by grace of God, faithful basileus of the Romans.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 6, Emperors, Patriarchs of Constantinople, Addenda (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, Vol. 3, Leo III to Nicephorus III (717–1081) (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Theophilos issued aniconic miliaresia (class 4), dated by Grierson to ca. 838–40, that bear on the obverse the same wording and spacing as the legend that appears on the reverse of this seal (DOC 3.1:11.1 [pl. 23]).