Seal of Theodoros
SigiDoc ID: s-Orpbt4
Artifact
- Type
- Seal
- Matrix
- SigiDoc ID: m-Dli3aP
Physical description
- Medium
- Original impression.
- Material
- Lead
- Shape
- Round
- Dimensions (mm)
- Diam. 23-27
- Weight (g)
- 11.9
- Channel orientation (clock)
- 6-12
- Axis (clock)
- ―
- Overstrike orientation (clock)
- ―
- Execution
- Struck
- Countermark
- ―
- Condition
- Chipped at the upper end of the channel. Traces of corrosion.
Dating
- Date
- Late 7th c. – early 8th c.
- Internal date
- ―
- Dating criteria
- Epigraphy
- Alternative date
- ―
History
- Category
- Private
- Issuer
- Theodoros
Milieu: Private
Gender: Male - Place of origin
- ―
- Find place
- ―
- Find date
- ―
- Find circumstances
- ―
- Modern location
- Cologne (Germany)
- Institution and repository
- ―
- Collection and inventory
- Robert Feind Collection M-164
- Acquisition
- ―
- Previous locations
- ―
- Modern observations
- ―
Obverse
- Language(s)
- Greek
- Layout of field
- Cruciform invocative monogram (Laurent I).
- Field dimensions (mm)
- ―
- Matrix
- ―
- Iconography
- ―
- Decoration
- Crosses in the quarters of the cruciform monogram. Wreath border.
- Epigraphy
- ―
- Language(s)
- Greek
- Layout of field
- Cruciform monogram.
- Field dimensions (mm)
- ―
- Matrix
- ―
- Iconography
- ―
- Decoration
- Star-like decoration in the quarters of the cruciform monogram. Wreath border.
- Epigraphy
- ―
- [caption of the image]
- [caption of the image]
- Edition(s)
- Unpublished
- Parallel(s)
- No parallels known
- Further references
- No further references
Reverse
Images
Edition
Legend and translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει Θεοδώρῳ.
Mother of God, help Theodoros.
References
Commentary
The upper part of the seal is damaged, so we do not know for sure whether the monogram on the reverse is fully preserved. If we assume that the monogram is fully preserved, then it would correspond to the monogram type Zacos 186, with the omicron inscribed in the rho and the name in the dative case. Alternatively, it can be assumed that there is a letter above the pi, either an upsilon (see the monogram type Zacos 179), in which case the name would be in the genitive, or an omicron (see the monogram type Zacos 185). There seems to be no place for an OV ligature. No parallels of this seal are known, but there are many specimens showing on the obverse the same invocative monogram (Laurent, type I) and on the reverse a similar cruciform monogram, with the name Theodoros in the genitive (with an OV ligature) or, more rarely, in the dative (with an omicron drown at the top of the rho).[1] Quite often there is no decoration in the quarters of the name monogram, except for one seal published in the DOsealsOnline, which shows four stars ( BZS.1947.2.1720 ).
Footnotes
[1] In the genitive: (1) Tatis Collection, no. 2315, published in CheynetTatış, no. 8.58 ; (2) DO BZS.1958.106.5006 (Zacos Collection), published in Zacos1, no. 1619 and in DOsealsOnline ; (3) DO BZS.1947.2.1720 and (4) DO BZS.1958.106.4997, both published in DOsealsOnline . In the dative, with an omicron drown at the top of the rho: DO BZS.1958.106.2340, published in Zacos1, no. 1621 and in DOsealsOnline . On a seal published by Zografopoulos the case is unclear, as the upper part of the monogram is missing (Karthago, no. 18/6/1, published in Zografopoulos2005, no. Θ 12 ).