Michael proedros (= metropolitan) of Ainos (twelfth century)
Obverse
Standing representation of the Virgin orans with medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: ΘΥ: Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Border of dots.
Obverse
Standing representation of the Virgin orans with medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: ΘΥ: Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, cross above. Border of dots.
ΑΙΝΠΡΟ
ΕΔΡΟΝΜΙ
ΧΑΗΛΣΚΕ
ΠΙΣΚΟΡΗ
Αἴνου πρόεδρον Μιχαὴλ σκέπις, Κόρη.
Accession number | BZS.1958.106.1643 |
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Diameter | 24.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 45.4. Laurent, Corpus V/3, no. 1789; cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 69. |
Translation
Αἴνου πρόεδρον Μιχαὴλ σκέπις, Κόρη.
Virgin, may you protect Michael, metropolitan of Ainos.
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)
- Les regestes des actes du patriarcat de Constantinople, Vol. 1, Les regestes de 381 à 715 (Open in Zotero)
- La Thrace Orientale et La Mer Noire: Géographie Ecclésiastique et Prosopographie (VIIIe-XIIe Siècles) (Open in Zotero)
- Les Rhodopes dans la deuxième moitié du XIIIe s: prosopographie (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Pernik (Open in Zotero)
- Enez (Ainos) Araştırmaları (Open in Zotero)
- Enez (Ainos) Kazıları (Open in Zotero)
- Enez Limanının Değişen Öneminde Deltasının (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The inscription is a twelve-syllable verse. Laurent dated this seal to the eleventh-twelfth century and attributed it to the metropolitan Michael attested in 1094 (Grumel, Regestes, no. 967; cf. Asdracha, Thrace orientale, 289). However, the epigraphy (especially the ligature ) indicates a date later in the twelfth century. We propose to identify the owner of this seal of Michael of Ainos, who attended the patriarchal synod on 19 November 1145 (Grumel, Regestes, no. 1019; cf. Asdracha, Thrace orientale, 289).