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George primikerios epi tou koitonos and oikonomos of the Nea Ekklesia (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Half-length depiction of a beardless warrior saint (likely St. George) holding a spear in his right hand and a round shield decorated with pellets in his left. A single columnar inscription visible at left: C. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of seven lines preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.


.κε,θ,
..ργ,η
..κ,ρ,επιτ,
..φυλκτ,
.οιτ..
.ικον.
νεσ


Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) [Γε]ωργή(ῳ) (πρι)[μι]κ(η)ρ(ίῳ) ἐπὶ τ(οῦ) [θ(ε)ο]φυλάκτ(ου) [κ]οιτῶ[ν(ος) (καὶ) ο]ἰκον(όμῳ) [τ(ῆς)] Νέας

Obverse

Half-length depiction of a beardless warrior saint (likely St. George) holding a spear in his right hand and a round shield decorated with pellets in his left. A single columnar inscription visible at left: C. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of seven lines preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.


.κε,θ,
..ργ,η
..κ,ρ,επιτ,
..φυλκτ,
.οιτ..
.ικον.
νεσ


Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) [Γε]ωργή(ῳ) (πρι)[μι]κ(η)ρ(ίῳ) ἐπὶ τ(οῦ) [θ(ε)ο]φυλάκτ(ου) [κ]οιτῶ[ν(ος) (καὶ) ο]ἰκον(όμῳ) [τ(ῆς)] Νέας

Accession number BZS.1958.106.5344
Diameter 31.0 mm; field: 28.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 48.4.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει Γεωργήῳ πριμικηρίῳ ἐπὶ τοῦ θεοφυλάκτου κοιτῶνος καὶ οἰκονόμῳ τῆς Νέας.

Lord, help George primikerios epi tou koitonos guarded by God, and oikonomos of the Nea Ekklesia.

Commentary

After the gamma in line 2 (reverse) the die cutter has placed an unnecessary suspension mark.

The Nea Ekklesia was a sanctuary built in the Great Palace in 880 by Basil I and consecrated to the Mother of God, St. Elias, St. Michael, and St. Nicholas. The ceremony commemorating its inauguration was marked by a procession departing from the church of the Theotokos of the Pharos and leading to the Nea, where a liturgy was celebrated followed by a banquet in the Chrysotriklinos (Listes, 214; ODB 2:1146). By the twelfth century the church had become a monastery. From the fact that chartoularioi and oikonomoi were attached to the church we may infer that the church enjoyed revenues from extensive estates.

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)
  • Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
  • Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (Open in Zotero)