Michael Apnelgaripes (?), 13th century. Seal (Lead, 31 mm, 11.63 g, 12 h). Monogram of MIX(ael) and possibly a family name. Rev. ...ЄΛΓA/...ΠΗ ΜΙ/...ΗΛ CΦPA/[ΓI]C ΠЄΛⲰ ("I am the seal of Michael Apnelgaripes") in four lines. Unpublished in the standard references. Broken along the channel, otherwise, good very fine.



If our reading is correct, this seal must belong to a Byzantine official who traces his ancestry back to a person named Apnelgaripes or Apelgaripes in a twelve-syllable verse. This is an Armenian name, most famously borne by the 11th century nobleman Abul-Gharib Artsruni, whose family was closely associated with the family of Senacherim Johannes, prince of Vaspurakan. The name Apnelgaripes seems to be unattested later than the 11th century. As it appears in our seal's legend, Apnelgaripes must be interpreted as the family name, considering the personal name Michael appears across the second and third lines.