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Priests and ekklesiekdikoi (of Saint Sophia) (fourteenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Justinian (left) and the Mother of God (right) holding between them the church of Saint Sophia. Columnar inscriptions. At left: ΕΣ|.ΟΤ : [Ἰουστινιανὸν δ]εσ[π]ότ[ην?]. In center: Η|Α|ΓΙΑ|ΣΟΦΙ|Α : Ἡ Ἁγία Σοφία; and at right: ..|Θ̅Υ̅|ΗΒ|ΟΗ|ΘΙ|Α : [Μή(τη)ρ] Θ(εο)ῦ – Ἡ Βοήθια. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

.τοισθε
.Σεβ..οισ
..εσ.......Σ
.Α.εκκλη..
εκδικοις

τοῖς θε[ο]σεβ(ε)στ[άτ]οις [πρ]εσ[βυτέροι]ς [κ]α[ὶ] ἐκκλη[σ]εκδίκοις

Obverse

Justinian (left) and the Mother of God (right) holding between them the church of Saint Sophia. Columnar inscriptions. At left: ΕΣ|.ΟΤ : [Ἰουστινιανὸν δ]εσ[π]ότ[ην?]. In center: Η|Α|ΓΙΑ|ΣΟΦΙ|Α : Ἡ Ἁγία Σοφία; and at right: ..|Θ̅Υ̅|ΗΒ|ΟΗ|ΘΙ|Α : [Μή(τη)ρ] Θ(εο)ῦ – Ἡ Βοήθια. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

.τοισθε
.Σεβ..οισ
..εσ.......Σ
.Α.εκκλη..
εκδικοις

τοῖς θε[ο]σεβ(ε)στ[άτ]οις [πρ]εσ[βυτέροι]ς [κ]α[ὶ] ἐκκλη[σ]εκδίκοις

Accession number BZS.1958.106.5717
Diameter 48.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 42.17; Laurent, Corpus 5.3: no. 1654B.

Translation

Τοῖς θεοσεβεστάτοις πρεσβυτέροις καὶ ἐκκλησεκδίκοις.

The most reverent priests and judges of Hagia Sophia.

Commentary

For a discussion of the ekklesiekdikoi, who formed a tribunal, operating out of Saint Sophia, and the iconography associated with their seals, see the brief introduction in DO Seals 5, pages 88–89, as well as J. Cotsonis, "The Virgin and Justinian on Seals of the Ekklesiekdikoi of Hagia Sophia."

Both Justinian's name and title have been restored in the accusative case.

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)
  • The Virgin and Justinian on Seals of the Ekklesiekdikoi of Hagia Sophia (Open in Zotero)