Michael bishop of Mytilene (eighth/ninth century)
Obverse
The Virgin standing, holding Christ. Traces of a cruciform monogram, with the following letters visible: Ο on top, Η at right, Β below, and Θ at left, for βοήθει. Border of dots.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, two pellets below. Border of dots.
ΜΙΧ.
ΗΛΕΠΙΣ.
ΟΠΜΙΤ.
ΛΙΝΗΣ
Μιχαὴλ ἐπισκόπῳ Μιτυλίνης
Obverse
The Virgin standing, holding Christ. Traces of a cruciform monogram, with the following letters visible: Ο on top, Η at right, Β below, and Θ at left, for βοήθει. Border of dots.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, two pellets below. Border of dots.
ΜΙΧ.
ΗΛΕΠΙΣ.
ΟΠΜΙΤ.
ΛΙΝΗΣ
Μιχαὴλ ἐπισκόπῳ Μιτυλίνης
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4659 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 35.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 2, no. 51.6. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει Μιχαὴλ ἐπισκόπῳ Μιτυλίνης.
Theotokos, help Michael bishop of Mytilene.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, vol. 2: South of the Balkans, the Islands, south of Asia Minor
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin, vol. 5, L’Église
- Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. 1
- Alexiade: Règne de l'empereur Alexis I Comnène, 1081–1118
- Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis: Series episcoporum ecclesiarum christianarum orientalium
- Les îles de l'empire byzantin
Commentary
Laurent wrongly identified the figure on the obverse as St. Theodora, assigned the specimen to the middle of the 9th century, and proposed identifying the owner with a correspondent of Photios in the years 867-877; we follow the dating of Zacos-Veglery, supported by the type and epigraphy of the seal. This date is also supported by the title ἐπίσκοπος, commonly used by the archbishops until the late 8th century (e.g., at the Council of 787; and we believe, in Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 751) before being replaced by the title μητροπολίτης after the elevation of Mytilene to the rank of metropolis in the second half of the 9th century.