Neophytos archbishop of Derkoi (ninth/tenth century)
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin holding Christ befoer her. On either side a cross. Circular inscription along border of dots.
θκεοηθειτσδουλ
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin holding Christ befoer her. On either side a cross. Circular inscription along border of dots.
θκεοηθειτσδουλ
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.
νεοφ
υταρχι
επισκοπ/
.ε.κν
Νεοφύτῳ ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ Δέρκων
Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4709 |
---|---|
Diameter | 25.0 mm; field: 19.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 75.1. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νεοφύτῳ ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ Δέρκων.
Theotokos, help your servant Neophytos archbishop of Derkoi.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- La Thrace Orientale et La Mer Noire: Géographie Ecclésiastique et Prosopographie (VIIIe-XIIe Siècles) (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Although the first part of the see's name is lightly imprinted, it is clear that the initial letter is either Δ, Λ, or Α and that the second letter is Ε, Ο, or Θ. Laurent notes that two archbishops of Derkos were present at the Photian synod of 879/80, a Makarios and a Neophytos, and reasonably attributes this seal to the latter, who was a partisan of Photios. Cf. Asdracha, Thrace orientale, 287.
This archiepiscopal see was located near Constantinople in eastern Thrace at the site of modern Terkos. The date of the episcopate's establishment is unknown, but it is clear that it was functioning in the eighth century: an archbishop of Derkos is attested at the council of 787. Cf. Laurent , Corpus V/3, 459 and Asdracha, Thrace orientale, 241-42, 287-88.