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Theod[....] protospatharios epi tes megales hetaireias and anagrapheus of the Armeniakoi (tenth/eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on steps, with fleurons rising to the upper bar. Circular inscription within a border of dots:

+κεRοηθειτ...

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τ[ῷ σῷ δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

θεοδ
`σπθ,.
τ,μεγ,ε
Sνγρ.
.ρμ΄ν

Θεοδ[...] (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) [ἐπὶ] τ(ῆς) μεγ(άλης) ἑ[ταιρείας] (καὶ) ἀν(α)γρ[αφεῖ τῶν] Ἀρμ(ε)ν(ιακῶν)

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on steps, with fleurons rising to the upper bar. Circular inscription within a border of dots:

+κεRοηθειτ...

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τ[ῷ σῷ δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

θεοδ
`σπθ,.
τ,μεγ,ε
Sνγρ.
.ρμ΄ν

Θεοδ[...] (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) [ἐπὶ] τ(ῆς) μεγ(άλης) ἑ[ταιρείας] (καὶ) ἀν(α)γρ[αφεῖ τῶν] Ἀρμ(ε)ν(ιακῶν)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.2680
Diameter 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 22.4.

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

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοδ... πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ ἐπὶ τῆς μεγάλης ἑταιρείας καὶ ἀναγραφεῖ τῶν Ἀρμενιακῶν.

Lord, help your servant Theod[....], protospatharios epi tes megales hetaireias and anagrapheus of the Armeniakoi.

Commentary

The owner's first name could be Theodore, Theodoulos, Theodosios, etc. His province was most probably the Armeniakoi, but a seal of this period could also refer to the "Armenian themes."

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
  • Les sceaux byzantins de la Collection Henri Seyrig (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
  • Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
  • De Thematibus (Open in Zotero)
  • Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (Open in Zotero)
  • Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)
  • Istoriceskoe znacenie italo-greceskoj ikonopisi: Izobra zenija Bogomatera v prozvedenijah italo-greceskih ikonopiscev i ih vlijanie na kompozicii nekotoryh proslavlennyh russkih ikon (Open in Zotero)