Ekdikoi of the Hagia Sophia. Circa 12th century. PB Seal (55mm, 107.50 g, 12h). The Theotokos, wearing tunic and maphorion and Justinian I, wearing crown and loros, both nimbate, supporting between them a model of the Hagia Sophia held in both hands; [+VΠЄPAΓ]IA Θ[Є]O TOKЄ ROHΘЄI around, H/A/[Γ/I]/A C/O/Φ/I/A down central field / – • –/ + TOIC ΘЄ/OCЄRЄCTA/TOIC ΠPЄC/RVTЄPOIC/ KAI ЄKKΛH/CЄKΔIK´/ – • – in eight lines. BLS II 65. Tan-brown patina, light roughness, a couple of minor stress cracks on reverse. VF.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group 121 (6 October 2022), lot 1145; Classical Numismatic Group 108 (16 May 2018), lot 780.
The ekdikoi were a college of priests responsible for the administration of holy sites, who additionally carried out a judicial function. In this capacity, accused criminals who sought asylum in churches would be judged by them. The office was established by Justinian I (527-565), but it did not acquire a real presence in the administration of church affairs until later in the 11th century._x000B_
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