Maria or Marianos (eleventh century, second half)
Obverse
On the left, the Mother of God standing, holding the Child in her left arm. On the right, beneath a decoration, an inscription of six lines beginning with a cross. Decoration below. Border of dots.
ειη.
φυλα.
μοικαι̣
ικαι
τνλο
γν
εἴη[ς] φύλα[ξ] μοι καὶ βίου καὶ τῶν λόγων
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, top line poorly preserved. A decoration below. Border of dots.
...̣
νυμονε̣
χοντιση
.κλησιν̣
κορη
[συν]ώνυμον ἔχοντι σὴ[ν] κλῆσιν, κόρη
Obverse
On the left, the Mother of God standing, holding the Child in her left arm. On the right, beneath a decoration, an inscription of six lines beginning with a cross. Decoration below. Border of dots.
ειη.
φυλα.
μοικαι̣
ικαι
τνλο
γν
εἴη[ς] φύλα[ξ] μοι καὶ βίου καὶ τῶν λόγων
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, top line poorly preserved. A decoration below. Border of dots.
...̣
νυμονε̣
χοντιση
.κλησιν̣
κορη
[συν]ώνυμον ἔχοντι σὴ[ν] κλῆσιν, κόρη
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.3236 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 22.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 696. |
Translation
εἴης φύλαξ μοι καὶ βίου καὶ τῶν λόγων συνώνυμον ἔχοντι σὴν κλῆσιν, κόρη.
May you, Virgin, be for me the guardian of your namesake's life and words.
Commentary
It is not clear if this seal belonged to a woman (Maria) or to a man (Marianos, or perhaps even Parthenios, as Wassiliou-Seibt surmises). The partially preserved word in the first line of the reverse (either ὁμώνυμον or συνώνυμον or φερώνυμον) is a two-termination adjective and hence could refer to a man or woman. Note, too, the unusual design of the obverse, with the image and inscription set side by side.