John cubicularius, imperial spatharius, and magister of Byzacena (sixth/seventh century)
Obverse
Inscription of three lines preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.
ΘΕΟΤΟΚ
ΕοετΙΙ
ΟΑΝΝΗ
Θεοτόκε υοέτι Ἰοάννῃ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines with decoration above and ending in decoration. Border of dots.
ΣIΣ
.ΝSET
MA
ZAΣNA
cuuicu(lario) [i]np(eriali) sp(athario) et mag(istro) Buzac(e)na(e)
Obverse
Inscription of three lines preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.
ΘΕΟΤΟΚ
ΕοετΙΙ
ΟΑΝΝΗ
Θεοτόκε υοέτι Ἰοάννῃ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines with decoration above and ending in decoration. Border of dots.
ΣIΣ
.ΝSET
MA
ZAΣNA
cuuicu(lario) [i]np(eriali) sp(athario) et mag(istro) Buzac(e)na(e)
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.1454 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 22.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 6.1. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε υοέτι Ἰοάννῃ cuuiculario inperiali spathario et magistro Buzacenae.
Theotokos, help John cubicularius, imperial spatharios, and magister of Byzacena.
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)
- Les sceaux byzantins du Médaillier Vatican (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- The defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab conquest: an account of the military history and archaeology of the African provinces in the sixth and seventh centuries (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The obverse inscription is principally in Greek letters, and the reverse inscription is exclusively in Latin letters. A major disagreement concerns the interpretation of line 2 (rev.). In his publication of the Vatican specimen, Laurent has postulated that the chrisma are purely decorative and that the simply represents a suspension mark to be read with imperialis. On the other hand, Zacos-Veglery read im(periali) sp(athario), the ligature being understood as a Ρ in combination with an abbreviation sign. This second reading seems more convincing, because on his Greek seals John bears the titles κουβικουλάριος καὶ βασιλικὸς σπαθάριος (Laurent, Vatican, 84 note 1). Since John is a very common name, there is no compelling reason to identify the owner of this seal with John Troglitas.
In the wake of Belisarios' conquest of Africa in 534, Byzacena was placed under the civil administration of a consular governor and under the military control of a doux. Its administrative boundaries corresponded to the Diocletianic province of Valeria Byzacena. In a rescript of 534, Justinian decreed two ducal headquarters: one at Capsa and the other at Thelepte. A third ducal residence was established at Sufetela by the seventh century, if not earlier. The Thracian Himerius, who campaigned against Stotzas in 545, is the first attested doux. Yet one has to note that on their seals the known military governors of Byzacena bear the title of magister militum, and not the (inferior) one of dux mentioned in the Justinianic legislation. Is this a change that came with time? Cf. Pringle, Byzantine Africa, 62 and 63.