Zeus Numismatics
Auction 10 12 Jul 2020
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Βyzantine lead seal of Michael Thermos the episkeptites (ca 12th cent.)
Obverse: Bust of Mother of God facing, nimbate, wearing chiton and maphorion, her right hand showing Jesus Christ whom is holding by her left (the iconographic type of the Hodegetria), Jesus Christ as child, also facial and nimbate, wearing chiton, the usual sigla, ΜΡ-Θ[ΟΥ] = Μήτηρ Θεοῦ (Mother of God), and Ο ΩΝ (the One who exists) for Christ, missing, all within dotted border.
Reverse: Inscription in 4 lines between decorative patterns, +Κ(ΥΡΙ)ΕΒ(ΟΗ)Θ(ΕΙ)/ΜΙΧΑΗΛ/ΕΠΙCΚΕΠΤ(ΙΤΗ)/Τ(Ω)ΘΕΡΜ(Ω) = + Κύριε, βοήθει Μιχαὴλ ἐπισκεπτίτῃ τῷ Θερμῷ (Lord, help Michael Thermos the episkeptites), all within dotted border.
Episkeptites was a subaltern official mentioned in the 9th-C. Kletorologion of Philotheos; there were episkeptitai in the departments of the dromos, the eparch of the city, the agelai etc (cf. Kazdan et alii, Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, I, p. 717).
Condition: Very Fine
Weight: 7.30 gr
Diameter: 22 mm
Obverse: Bust of Mother of God facing, nimbate, wearing chiton and maphorion, her right hand showing Jesus Christ whom is holding by her left (the iconographic type of the Hodegetria), Jesus Christ as child, also facial and nimbate, wearing chiton, the usual sigla, ΜΡ-Θ[ΟΥ] = Μήτηρ Θεοῦ (Mother of God), and Ο ΩΝ (the One who exists) for Christ, missing, all within dotted border.
Reverse: Inscription in 4 lines between decorative patterns, +Κ(ΥΡΙ)ΕΒ(ΟΗ)Θ(ΕΙ)/ΜΙΧΑΗΛ/ΕΠΙCΚΕΠΤ(ΙΤΗ)/Τ(Ω)ΘΕΡΜ(Ω) = + Κύριε, βοήθει Μιχαὴλ ἐπισκεπτίτῃ τῷ Θερμῷ (Lord, help Michael Thermos the episkeptites), all within dotted border.
Episkeptites was a subaltern official mentioned in the 9th-C. Kletorologion of Philotheos; there were episkeptitai in the departments of the dromos, the eparch of the city, the agelai etc (cf. Kazdan et alii, Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, I, p. 717).
Condition: Very Fine
Weight: 7.30 gr
Diameter: 22 mm