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John monk and orphanotrophos (eleventh century, first half)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. Nicholas. Inscription partially preserved: κ,λ|αο|σ: ἅγιος Νικολάος. Border of dots.

 

Reverse

Inscription in six lines with decoration above. Border of dots.

  
ΚΕ̅
,.
τσδ.
ι̅μονα
χ,ορφα
νοτρο
φ,

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ μοναχ καὶ ὀρφανοτρόφ

Obverse

Bust of St. Nicholas. Inscription partially preserved: κ,λ|αο|σ: ἅγιος Νικολάος. Border of dots.

 

Reverse

Inscription in six lines with decoration above. Border of dots.

  
ΚΕ̅
,.
τσδ.
ι̅μονα
χ,ορφα
νοτρο
φ,

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ μοναχ καὶ ὀρφανοτρόφ

Accession number BZS.1958.106.5637
Diameter 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

Zacos-Veglery, no. 2677bis (a).

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ μοναχῷ καὶ ὀρφανοτρόφῳ.

Lord, help your servant John, monk and orphanotrophos.

Commentary

The owner of this seal will have been the famous John the Orphanotrophos, active between 1033 and 1042; see PBW: Ioannes 68, and John W. Nesbitt, "The Orphanotrophos: Some observations on the history of the office in light of seals," SBS 8 (2003), 59-60.

Bibliography