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Source Description
This gold seal ring has four lines of Greek inscription in reverse on the oval bezel. The monograms and decorative vine scrolls on the shoulder are done in niello.The mandators (literally "messengers") were Byzantine state officials employed for special missions such as acting as guides for foreign envoys. The office disappeared in the 11th century.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
28054
label
Seal Ring
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
11
Source metadata
id
28054
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Seal Ring
description
This gold seal ring has four lines of Greek inscription in reverse on the oval bezel. The monograms and decorative vine scrolls on the shoulder are done in niello.The mandators (literally "messengers") were Byzantine state officials employed for special missions such as acting as guides for foreign envoys. The office disappeared in the 11th century.
provenance
F. A. Harman Oates, London, by purchase; Sale, Sotheby's, London, February 20, 1929, lot 14; Léon Gruel, Paris, 1929, by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1929, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
9th-10th century (Medieval)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Gold, Silver & Jewelry
finger rings
seals
imageCount
11
pageCount
11
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
1.3
height
2.3
depth
2.4
dimensionsRaw
H: 1/2 x W: 7/8 x D: 15/16 in. (1.3 x 2.3 x 2.4 cm)
Source extras
cul
Byzantine
inscriptions
[Transcription] + Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη τῶ σῶ δ(ούλω) Μηχαήλ β(ασιλικῶ) μανδάτ(ορι); [Translation] Lord
help thy servant Michael
imperial mandator
dynasty
Macedonian Dynasty
med
gold, niello
creator_ids
6640
collection_ids
BYZ
JWL
exhibition_ids
1954
358
2227
2513
Page inventory
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photo
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photo
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photo
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photo
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photo
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photo
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photo
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photo
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seq
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photo
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no