★ The noble woman Zoe Dabatene ★

Zoe Dabatene, 2nd half of 11th century. Seal (Lead, 21 mm, 9.27 g, 12 h). MHP - ΘV Nimbate Theotokos “Dexiokratousa” standing on dais, holding Christ, wearing cross nimbus, on her right arm, pointing towards him with her left hand. Rev. ΘKE R,Θ, / TH CH Δ૪, / ZωH TH Δ/ARATH/NH ('Mother of God, help your servant Zoe Dabatene') in five lines, decorations above and on the last line. Stavrakos p. 126 (citing 2 unpublished seals in Dumbarton Oaks). A very attractive and highly interesting piece. Very fine.

The name of the noble woman Zoe Dabatene appears in her daughter Kale's will of 1098, which survived in the archive of the Iveron monastery. Zoe was married to an Armenian named Basilakes (Vasilig in Armenian), who held the high court dignity of kouropalates. Her daughter Kale was also married to a husband of Armeno-Georgian descent, Symbatios Paukourianos. Kale's will records a large number of bequests, perhaps most impressive of which was the entire village of Radolibos that she bequeathed to the monastery. To her mother Zoe Dabatene she left a large platter with a niello-decorated rim, a purple cloth and 1 pound of gold. Zoe retired to a monastery in the last years of her life, under the monastic name of Xene.