The sekreton of St. George Tropaiophoros, oikos of the sebaste (1042–1045)
Obverse
Inscription of five lines preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.
ΣΦΡ..
ΤΣΕΚΡΕΤ,
ΤΑΓ,ΓΕ
Γ,ΤΤΡΟ
ΠΑΙΟΦΟΡ
Σφρ[αγ(ὶς)] τοῦ σεκρέτ(ου) τοῦ ἁγ(ίου) μ(ε)γ(αλο)μ(άρ)τ(υρος) Γεωργ(ίου) τοῦ Τροπαιοφόρ(ου)
Reverse
Inscription of six lines preceded by decoration and ending with the last letter between two horizontal bars. Border of dots.
SΟΙΚΤ
ΥΠΕΠΕΡΙ
ΛΑΜΠΡS
ΕΥΤΥΧΕΣΤ,
Τ,ΣΕΑΣ
Τ,
(καὶ) οἴκου τ(ῆ)ς ὑπε(ρ)περιλάμπρου (καὶ) εὐτυχεστ(ά)τ(ης) σεβαστ(ῆς)
Obverse
Inscription of five lines preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.
ΣΦΡ..
ΤΣΕΚΡΕΤ,
ΤΑΓ,ΓΕ
Γ,ΤΤΡΟ
ΠΑΙΟΦΟΡ
Σφρ[αγ(ὶς)] τοῦ σεκρέτ(ου) τοῦ ἁγ(ίου) μ(ε)γ(αλο)μ(άρ)τ(υρος) Γεωργ(ίου) τοῦ Τροπαιοφόρ(ου)
Reverse
Inscription of six lines preceded by decoration and ending with the last letter between two horizontal bars. Border of dots.
SΟΙΚΤ
ΥΠΕΠΕΡΙ
ΛΑΜΠΡS
ΕΥΤΥΧΕΣΤ,
Τ,ΣΕΑΣ
Τ,
(καὶ) οἴκου τ(ῆ)ς ὑπε(ρ)περιλάμπρου (καὶ) εὐτυχεστ(ά)τ(ης) σεβαστ(ῆς)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.39 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 39.0 mm; field: 25.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 25.17; Oikonomides, DOP 34–35 (1980/81): 239 (=Dated Seals, no. 86). |
Translation
Σφραγὶς τοῦ σεκρέτου τοῦ ἁγίου μεγαλομάρτυρος Γεωργίου τοῦ Τροπαιοφόρου καὶ οἴκου τῆς ὑπερπεριλάμπρου καὶ εὐτυχεστάτης σεβαστῆς.
The seal of the sekreton of St. George the Great Martyr and Trophy-bearer; which [sekreton] is also the oikos of the most illustrious and most blessed sebaste.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
- A Collection of Dated Byzantine Lead Seals (Open in Zotero)
- Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
We have adapted Nicolas Oikonomides's translation of the two inscriptions. The sebaste referred to is Maria Skleraina, the mistress of Constantine IX Monomachos, who established for his paramour the oikos of St. George of Mangana. The term oikos is to be understood here in the sense of a charitable foundation (εὐαγὴς οἶκος). The institution was maintained by lands attached to it, in this particular case, a mill, a bakery, urban property in the capital, and lands in the provinces. The foundation (which is separate from the kouratoreion of the Mangana) was administered by a μἐγας οἰκονόμος τοῦ Τροπαιοφόρου (see BZS.1951.31.5.600 and BZS.1958.106.171 and its parallel) who was assisted by notarioi, protonotarioi, and logariastai (for the latter, see Sig., 151, no. 3).