Sampson, bishop of Melitopolis, second half 9th century. Seal (Lead, 27 mm, 10.74 g, 12 h). +ΘKЄ ROHΘ, TⲰ CⲰ ΔOVΛⲰ ('Mother of God, help your servant') Facing, nimbate bust of the Mother of God, holding infant Christ, nimbate. Rev. +CAMΨ/ⲰN ЄΛЄⲰ / ΘV ЄΠICKOΠ, / MЄΛITOVΠ/OΛЄⲰC ('Sampson, through the grace of God, bishop of Melitopolis') in five lines. Unpublished in the standard references. An important early Byzantine episcopal seal. Minor surface roughness, otherwise, very fine.


Melitopolis was a suffragan bishopric of the metropolis of Kyzikos. Thus far, no seals appear to have been published naming this bishopric. The bishop attested on our seal carries the old Hebrew name Sampson.