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John (member of the) diakonia of the church of the Blachernae (ninth century, first half)

 
 

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: Ι|ΑΝ|ΝΙ. Wreath border.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει Ἰωάννῃ

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, row of dots below. Indeterminate border.

ΤΗΣ
/ΚΟΝΙ/Τ/
ΝΕΒΛ
ΧΕΡ.


Τῆς δ(ια)κονί(ας) τ(οῦ) νεὼ Βλαχερνῶ(ν)

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: Ι|ΑΝ|ΝΙ. Wreath border.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει Ἰωάννῃ

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, row of dots below. Indeterminate border.

ΤΗΣ
/ΚΟΝΙ/Τ/
ΝΕΒΛ
ΧΕΡ.


Τῆς δ(ια)κονί(ας) τ(οῦ) νεὼ Βλαχερνῶ(ν)

Accession number BZS.1958.106.4950
Diameter 23.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 31.1b; Laurent, Corpus 5.3: no. 1921; Zacos–Veglery, no. 2008 (with misreading).

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει Ἰωάννι τῆς διακονίας τοῦ νεὼ Βλαχερνῶν.

Mother of God, help John, (member) of the diakonia of the new Blachernae.

Commentary

The inscription on the reverse constitutes a twelve-syllable verse.

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)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)