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Priests and ekklesiekdikoi (of Saint Sophia) (fourteenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Justinian (left) and the Mother of God (right) holding between them a model of the church of Saint Sophia, which offers a view within of a cross set on an altar. Inscriptions. Center: ΗΑ|.ΙΑ|ΣΟ|ΦΙΑ : Ἡ Ἁ[γ]ία Σοφία; at left: Ι|...|Ν|ΙΑ|Ν|Ο|ΝΔ|ΕΣ|.Ο : Ἰου[στι]νιανὸν δεσ[π]ό[την]; and at right: ̅|ΘΥ̅|Η|..|..|Α : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ – Ἡ Β[οήθι]α. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

τοισθε
οσεβεατοισ
εσβυτεροισ
καιεκκλησ
εκδικοισ

τοῖς θεοσεβεστάτοις πρεσβυτέροις καὶ ἐκκλησεκδίκοις

Obverse

Justinian (left) and the Mother of God (right) holding between them a model of the church of Saint Sophia, which offers a view within of a cross set on an altar. Inscriptions. Center: ΗΑ|.ΙΑ|ΣΟ|ΦΙΑ : Ἡ Ἁ[γ]ία Σοφία; at left: Ι|...|Ν|ΙΑ|Ν|Ο|ΝΔ|ΕΣ|.Ο : Ἰου[στι]νιανὸν δεσ[π]ό[την]; and at right: ̅|ΘΥ̅|Η|..|..|Α : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ – Ἡ Β[οήθι]α. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

τοισθε
οσεβεατοισ
εσβυτεροισ
καιεκκλησ
εκδικοισ

τοῖς θεοσεβεστάτοις πρεσβυτέροις καὶ ἐκκλησεκδίκοις

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4912
Diameter 44.0 mm; field: 36.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 42.20. Illustrated by Laurent, Corpus 5.1: no. 114 (pl. 19).

Translation

Τοῖς θεοσεβεστάτοις πρεσβυτέροις καὶ ἐκκλησεκδίκοις.

The most reverent priests and judges of Hagia Sophia.

Commentary

For a discussion of the ekklesiekdikoi, who formed a tribunal, operating out of Saint Sophia, and the iconography associated with their seals, see the brief introduction in DO Seals 5, pages 88–89, as well as J. Cotsonis, "The Virgin and Justinian on Seals of the Ekklesiekdikoi of Hagia Sophia."

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • The Virgin and Justinian on Seals of the Ekklesiekdikoi of Hagia Sophia (Open in Zotero)