Michael (bishop) of Bonditza (twelfth century)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.32 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28 mm |
| Field diameter | 24 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 2, no. 4.1. |
Obverse
The Virgin seated on a high-backed throne holding Christ before her. On either side the sigla: ΘΥ: Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
ΤΟΝ
ΟΝΔΙ
ΤΗΣΠΑΝΑ
ΓΝΕΜΙΧΑ
ΗΛΣΚΕ
ΠΟΙ
Τὸν Βονδίτζης, Πάναγνε, Μιχαὴλ σκέποις
Translation
Τὸν Βονδίτζης, Πάναγνε, Μιχαὴλ σκέποις.
Holy One, may you watch over Michael (bishop) of Bonditza.
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.32 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28 mm |
| Field diameter | 24 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 2, no. 4.1. |
Commentary
Dodecasyllable verse. One may wonder whether the Virgin of the obverse is not a copy of the icon of the Virgin in the episcopal (?) church of Bonditza; see B. Katsaros, "Προβλήματα βυζαντινῆς στὴ Δυτικὴ Στερεὰ (12ος-13ος αἰ.)," Byzantina 13/2 (1985) 1518-19.
Modern Bonitza (toponym of Slavic origin) situated on the southern coast of the gulf of Ambrakia. The see, attested since the early 10th century (Darrouzès, Notitiae, no. 7, line 576), always occupied the first rank among the suffragans of Naupaktos. Cf. Laurent, Corpus V/1, 515, and Soustal, Nikopolis und Kephallenia, 128-29.