The "brothers" of St. Zotikos (twelfth century)
Obverse
St. Zotikos standinγ, orans. Inscription in two columns: ι|ο|σ|τ|ι.|ο : [Ὁ ἅγ]ιος [Ζ]ωτι[κ]ό(ς). Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
σργ.
δελν
τουοσι
ζτικ
Σφραγ[ὶ(ς)] ἀδελφῶν τοῦ ὁσίου Ζωτικοῦ
Obverse
St. Zotikos standinγ, orans. Inscription in two columns: ι|ο|σ|τ|ι.|ο : [Ὁ ἅγ]ιος [Ζ]ωτι[κ]ό(ς). Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
σργ.
δελν
τουοσι
ζτικ
Σφραγ[ὶ(ς)] ἀδελφῶν τοῦ ὁσίου Ζωτικοῦ
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.5006 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 22.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 62.1; Laurent, Corpus 5.3: no. 1916. See also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2326. |
Translation
Σφραγὶς ἀδελφῶν τοῦ ὁσίου Ζωτικοῦ.
Seal of the brothers of St. Zotikos.
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
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin, vol. 5, L’Église
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden Teil 2: N - Sphragis
Commentary
A twelve-syllable verse. The reading of the columnar inscription on the obverse at left is uncertain. It could be, based on the wording of the inscription on the reverse, that we are to understand [Ὁ ὅσ]ιος.
The seal likely refers to the leprosarium of St. Zotikos, located on a hill below Galata. Antony of Novgorod visited the institution in 1200 and states that it consisted of a hospital and a church. It was the site of Zotikos's tomb. The "brothers" of this establishment might be medical specialists (possibly monks) who cared for the inmates, but Laurent could well be correct in his observation that the "brothers" might actually be the lepers. In other words, the lepers may have looked after one another.