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Theodosios imperial protospatharios and strategos of Cephalonia and Longobardia (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps, surrounded by a circle of distant dots; two pellets in the lower quarters of the cruciform. Along the circumference, between two borders of tight dots, inscription.

κεοηθΕιτ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ [σῷ δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription in seven lines. No visible border.

.θεο
.σιˊ
.σπαθˊSσ
.ρατ,κ,φαλ
.νSλογγ
.ρδιˊ

Θεο[δ]οσίῳ β(ασιλικῷ) [(πρωτο)]σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) σ[τ]ρατ(ηγῷ) Κ(ε)φ[α]λ[η]ν(ίας) καὶ Λογγ[ι]βαρδί(ας)

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps, surrounded by a circle of distant dots; two pellets in the lower quarters of the cruciform. Along the circumference, between two borders of tight dots, inscription.

κεοηθΕιτ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ [σῷ δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription in seven lines. No visible border.

.θεο
.σιˊ
.σπαθˊSσ
.ρατ,κ,φαλ
.νSλογγ
.ρδιˊ

Θεο[δ]οσίῳ β(ασιλικῷ) [(πρωτο)]σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) σ[τ]ρατ(ηγῷ) Κ(ε)φ[α]λ[η]ν(ίας) καὶ Λογγ[ι]βαρδί(ας)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.2277
Diameter 18.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 3.4.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοδοσίῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Κεφαληνίας καὶ Λογγιβαρδίας.

Lord, help your servant Theodosios imperial protospatharios and strategos of Cephalonia and Longobardia.

Commentary

The combination of the command of Longobardia with that of Cephalonia, on the other side of the Ionian sea, is frequent, cf. BZS.1947.2.56 and Falkenhausen, Dominazione, 24-25.

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)