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Adrianos imperial spatharokandidatos and tourmarches of Preslav (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps. Circular inscription along double border of dots.

ΚΕΟΗΘΗΤΣΔΟΥΛ,

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΔΡΗ
ΝˊΣΠ
Θ,ΚΝΔˋ
ΤΡΜΡΧˊ
ΠΕΡΣ

Ἀδρηαν(ῷ) β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρο)κανδ(ιδάτῳ) (καὶ) τουρμάρχ(ῃ) Περσ(λ)άβ(ας)

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps. Circular inscription along double border of dots.

ΚΕΟΗΘΗΤΣΔΟΥΛ,

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΔΡΗ
ΝˊΣΠ
Θ,ΚΝΔˋ
ΤΡΜΡΧˊ
ΠΕΡΣ

Ἀδρηαν(ῷ) β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρο)κανδ(ιδάτῳ) (καὶ) τουρμάρχ(ῃ) Περσ(λ)άβ(ας)

Accession number BZS.1947.2.136
Diameter 20.0 mm; field: 15.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 69.2. Laurent, Recueil, 286, where the geographical designation is incorrectly read as Πέρσας.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἀδρηανῷ βασιλικῷ σπαθαροκανδιδάτῳ καὶ τουρμάρχῃ Περσλάβας.

Lord, help your servant Adrianos, imperial spatharokandidatos and tourmarches of Preslav.

Commentary

Engraving of poor quality, but the only doubtful letter is in line 5 of the reverse; it appears to be Α but could be Λ. For the form ΠΕΡ- instead of ΠΡΕ-, see, for example, two seals published by I. Jordanov, "La stratégie de Preslav," nos. 7-8. We know that Preslav was renamed Ioannoupolis after the Byzantines captured it in 971, but the present seal, as well as some others found in Preslav itself (I. Jordanov and V. Tŭpkova-Zaimova, "Quelques nouvelles données sur l'administration byzantine au Bas-Danube [Xe-XIe s.]," Géographie historique du monde méditerranéen [Paris, 1988] 119), would suggest that this renaming did not take place immediately.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)