Martinos (?) (sixth/seventh century)
Obverse
Bust of a bearded saint, likely St. Theodore, wearing the chlamys. Inscription: ΑΓΙ||...Δ|Ω|Ρ: ἁγίου Θεοδώρου. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Block monogram. Crosses on either side; above, a star. Indeterminate border.
α - ι - λ - μ - ν - ο - ρ - τ - υ - χ
Μαρτίνου χαρτουλαρίου (?)
Obverse
Bust of a bearded saint, likely St. Theodore, wearing the chlamys. Inscription: ΑΓΙ||...Δ|Ω|Ρ: ἁγίου Θεοδώρου. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Block monogram. Crosses on either side; above, a star. Indeterminate border.
α - ι - λ - μ - ν - ο - ρ - τ - υ - χ
Μαρτίνου χαρτουλαρίου (?)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.3903 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 1.0 mm |
Translation
Μαρτίνου χαρτουλαρίου.
(Seal of) the chartoularios Martinos (?).
Commentary
This seal possesses a number of ambiguities. First of all, there is the label of the saint; in this period, iconographic labels rarely appear, and when they do, the name is given in nominative. However, this label is clearly in the genitive. This may indicate that we have here some sort of institution (a monastery of St. Theodore), or that this is just an engraver's mistake. Additionally, there is the reverse monogram, which could read χαρτουλαρίου (chartoularios). Moreover, Martinos, while the most likely resolution if it is a name, is not the only possibility; additionally possible are Μαρτιανοῦ (Martianos), Μαρτυρίου (Martyrios), Μαρτίου (Martios), Ἀρματίου (Armatios), and Μαρίτου (Maritos).