Niketas synkellos, chartoularios of the Great Orphanotropheion, thytes (= bishop) of Ionopolis (eleventh century)
Obverse
The Virgin enthroned (throne with a high back and one round cushion) holding a medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: ̅–θ̅υ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Circle of pellets within a double border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines, followed by a decoration. Circle of pellets within a double border of dots.
+θ̅κ̅εRθ,
νικητα
συγκελλ
Sχ̅τ̅λ̅,του
ορφανοτρο
φ,θυτι
νοπολ,
– –
Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικήτᾳ συγέλλῳ (καὶ) χ(αρ)τ(ου)λ(αρίῳ) τοῦ μ(ε)γ(άλου) ὀρφανοτροφ(είου), θύτου Ἰωνοπόλ(εως)
Obverse
The Virgin enthroned (throne with a high back and one round cushion) holding a medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: ̅–θ̅υ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Circle of pellets within a double border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines, followed by a decoration. Circle of pellets within a double border of dots.
+θ̅κ̅εRθ,
νικητα
συγκελλ
Sχ̅τ̅λ̅,του
ορφανοτρο
φ,θυτι
νοπολ,
– –
Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικήτᾳ συγέλλῳ (καὶ) χ(αρ)τ(ου)λ(αρίῳ) τοῦ μ(ε)γ(άλου) ὀρφανοτροφ(είου), θύτου Ἰωνοπόλ(εως)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.38 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 18.3a. A similar specimen is published by Zacos, Seals II, no. 657. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει Νικήτᾳ συγέλλῳ καὶ χαρτουλαρίῳ τοῦ μεγάλου ὀρφανοτροφείου, θύτου Ἰωνοπόλεως.
Mother of God, help Niketas, synkellos and chartoularios of the Great Orphanotropheion, bishop of Ionopolis.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, volume 4: The East
- Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. 2
- Βυζαντιακὰ μολυβδόβουλλα. Ἡ συλλογὴ Ἀναστασίου Κ. Π. Σταμούλη
- Paphlagonien und Honorias
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin, vol. 5, L’Église
- Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis: Series episcoporum ecclesiarum christianarum orientalium
Commentary
This seal and BZS.1958.106.2897 come from the same boulloterion. BZS 1947.2.23 is an exact copy, but slightly bigger.
Compare the wording of line 6 (reverse) on a similar seal published by Zacos, Seals II, no. 659 (and Konstantopoulos, no. 159b), where the last part of the legend reads ὀρφανοτροφίου τοῦ (659a) or is corrected to τῷ Ἰωνοπόλεως (659b). This is the abridged expression indicating the bishop of a see.