Stephen (?) bishop of the Thessalians (?) (tenth century)
Obverse
A cruciform monogram. In the quarters: .σ|..λ : [τ]ῷ σῷ [δού]λῳ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Cruciform monogram. Possible reading: Στεφάνῳ. In the quarters: επικοπ,|.ε̣ττ̣λ̣ : ἐπι(σ)κόπ(ῳ) [Θ]εττ(α)λ(ῶν). Border of dots.
Obverse
A cruciform monogram. In the quarters: .σ|..λ : [τ]ῷ σῷ [δού]λῳ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Cruciform monogram. Possible reading: Στεφάνῳ. In the quarters: επικοπ,|.ε̣ττ̣λ̣ : ἐπι(σ)κόπ(ῳ) [Θ]εττ(α)λ(ῶν). Border of dots.
| Accession number | BZS.1977.34.7 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 21.0 mm; field: 17.0 mm |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Στεφάνῷ ἐπισκόπῳ Θετταλῶν.
Mother of God, help your servant Stephen, bishop of the Thessalians.
Commentary
Evidence of an earlier strike is visible in the letters that appear along the lower circumference on both sides of the seal. They interfere with the reading of the place name in the lower quarters of the reverse. It is possible that the owner was bishop of the Thessalians (Θετταλῶν), in other words, of Thessalonike. This designation is in fact recorded on other seals of metropolitans of Thessalonike (see DO Seals 1, 18.80 and 81) but the reading in this case was too uncertain for to be included in this section of the DO catalogue.