Nikephoros bishop of Belebouzdion (eleventh century)

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Accession number	BZS.1955.1.4663
Diameter	17 mm
Previous Editions	DO Seals 1, no. 31.2a. Laurent, Corpus V/2, no. 2019. A similar seal was published by Zacos, Seals II, no. 630. The identifying legend on the Zacos specimen can be clearly read and reveals that the saint depicted is St. Nikephoros. Since the Zacos seal is rather weakly imprinted due to overstriking, it is not certain whether or not it is from the same boulloterion as this specimen or BZS.1958.106.153.

Obverse

A bust (of St. Nikephoros) holding a small martyr's cross. No inscription visible. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines, final two letters between bars. Border of dots.

ΘΚΕ,.
ΝΙΚΗΦΟ.
ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠ
ΕΛΕ
ΣΔ,

Θεοτόκε βοήθει Νικηφόρῳ ἐπισκόπῳ Βελεβουσδίου

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει Νικηφόρῳ ἐπισκόπῳ Βελεβουσδίου.

Theotokos, help Nikephoros bishop of Belebouzdion.

Commentary

This specimen is very similar but comes from a different boulloterion than BZS.1958.106.153.

As Laurent suggested, it is not impossible that the owner of this seal is Nikephoros of Belebouzdion who signed codex Coislin 72 in 1071-72: R. Devreesse, Le fonds Coislin, 64.

Belebouzdion, the Slavic name of modern Köstendil, was a suffragan bishopric of Ohrid. Cf. Laurent, Corpus V/2, 329.

Accession number	BZS.1955.1.4663
Diameter	17 mm
Previous Editions	DO Seals 1, no. 31.2a. Laurent, Corpus V/2, no. 2019. A similar seal was published by Zacos, Seals II, no. 630. The identifying legend on the Zacos specimen can be clearly read and reveals that the saint depicted is St. Nikephoros. Since the Zacos seal is rather weakly imprinted due to overstriking, it is not certain whether or not it is from the same boulloterion as this specimen or BZS.1958.106.153.

Bibliography

Accession number	BZS.1955.1.4663
Diameter	17 mm
Previous Editions	DO Seals 1, no. 31.2a. Laurent, Corpus V/2, no. 2019. A similar seal was published by Zacos, Seals II, no. 630. The identifying legend on the Zacos specimen can be clearly read and reveals that the saint depicted is St. Nikephoros. Since the Zacos seal is rather weakly imprinted due to overstriking, it is not certain whether or not it is from the same boulloterion as this specimen or BZS.1958.106.153.

Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection