Ignatios monk and kaisar (eleventh century, second half)
Obverse
Inscription of four lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
κε̅
οηθει
τσδ,
λ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δ(ού)λῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
Ιγνα
τιαχ
τκαι
σαρι
Ἰγνατίῳ (μον)αχ(ῷ) τῷ καίσαρι
Obverse
Inscription of four lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
κε̅
οηθει
τσδ,
λ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δ(ού)λῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
Ιγνα
τιαχ
τκαι
σαρι
Ἰγνατίῳ (μον)αχ(ῷ) τῷ καίσαρι
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.263 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 22.0 mm; field: 13.0 mm |
| Condition | Chipped. |
| Previous Editions | Laurent, Corpus V/2, no. 1387. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰγνατίῳ μοναχῷ τῷ καίσαρι.
Lord, help your servant, the monk and kaisar Ignatios.
Bibliography
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
In his edition of this seal Laurent speculated that the owner might well be the famous kaisar John Doukas, brother of Constantine X Doukas and an influential figure in palace politics during the reign of Romanos IV Diogenes. He was forced to enter a monastery in 1073-1074 which would explain the strange combination of monk and kaisar and the name Ignatios (it was customary for entrants to a monastery to take a name that began with the same letter as their baptismal name).