Skip to Content

N. hegoumenos of the monastery of (Christ) Philanthropos (twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

Christ standing, holding a book in his left hand. At left and right: ΙΣ̅ΧΣ : Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Inscription in two columns: ο|φι|λα|νθρ.|π.|σ : ὁ Φιλάνθρ[ω]π[ο]ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.

.ονησ
..οεδρον
..σφιλ̅Α̅Ν̅ε
.κεπε

[Μ]ονῆς [πρ]όεδρον [σῆ]ς Φιλάν(θρωπ)ε [σ]κέπε

Obverse

Christ standing, holding a book in his left hand. At left and right: ΙΣ̅ΧΣ : Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Inscription in two columns: ο|φι|λα|νθρ.|π.|σ : ὁ Φιλάνθρ[ω]π[ο]ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.

.ονησ
..οεδρον
..σφιλ̅Α̅Ν̅ε
.κεπε

[Μ]ονῆς [πρ]όεδρον [σῆ]ς Φιλάν(θρωπ)ε [σ]κέπε

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4990
Diameter 33.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 56.2; Laurent, Corpus 5.3: no. 1911 (accession no. misidentified). For two identical specimens see Seyrig, no. 282 (= Laurent, Corpus 5.2: no. 1184); and Zacos, Seals II, no. 683. Cf. Seibt-Wassiliou, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 1459.

Translation

Μονῆς πρόεδρον σῆς Φιλάνθρωπε σκέπε.

O Philanthropos, watch over the proedros of your monastery.

Commentary

Twelve-syllable verse. On the reverse the letters Λ, Α, and N were engraved in ligature.

The monastery of Christ Philanthropos, situated near the Blachernae Church, was founded by the empress Irene, the wife of Alexios I Komnenos: Janin, Églises: 525–27.

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)
  • Les sceaux byzantins de la Collection Henri Seyrig (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
  • La géographie ecclésiastique de l’empire byzantin, Vol. 1, Le siège de Constantinople et le patriarcat oecuménique, Pt. 3, Les églises et les monastères (Open in Zotero)
  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)