Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 104 15 Dec 2022
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Byzantine Invocative PB Seal in the name of John, archbishop of Ephesos. Circa 8th - 9th century AD. Cruciform invocative monogram (Laurent, type V) = ΘЄΟΤΟΚЄ ΒΟΗΘЄΙ; in quadrants, TѠ CѠ Δ૪ ΛѠ / ⧾ IѠAN NHAPXHЄ ΠICΚOΠѠ ЄΦЄCO[...] in four lines. Translation: Mother of God, help your servant John, archbishop of Ephesos. BLS -; DOC-; cf. Laurent V, 256; Gorny & Mosch 204, 2907. 9.40g, 23mm, 12h.
Condition as seen.
From the collection of Italo Vecchi.
The ancient city of Ephesos was abandoned in the seventh century in favour of the security of the inland fortress of Theologos, where the famous basilica and major pilgrimage center of St. John the Evangelist stood. The name (Ἅγιος) Θεολόγος was used when speaking of the medieval town and its administrators, such as the commander of the fortress, the paraphylax, or the archon and the droungarios. But the old name, Ephesos, also survived in civil administration: Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos informs us that the theme of Samos, which is first attested at the very end of the ninth century, had control over the tourma of Ephesos. Perhaps Theologos was used locally and Ephesos was the name that prevailed in ecclesiastic administration. The owner of our seal may be identified with the bishop John who took part in the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787.
Condition as seen.
From the collection of Italo Vecchi.
The ancient city of Ephesos was abandoned in the seventh century in favour of the security of the inland fortress of Theologos, where the famous basilica and major pilgrimage center of St. John the Evangelist stood. The name (Ἅγιος) Θεολόγος was used when speaking of the medieval town and its administrators, such as the commander of the fortress, the paraphylax, or the archon and the droungarios. But the old name, Ephesos, also survived in civil administration: Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos informs us that the theme of Samos, which is first attested at the very end of the ninth century, had control over the tourma of Ephesos. Perhaps Theologos was used locally and Ephesos was the name that prevailed in ecclesiastic administration. The owner of our seal may be identified with the bishop John who took part in the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787.