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Nicholas imperial spatharios and chartoularios of the Optimatoi (ninth/tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Cross with wide arms on four steps with fleurons arising from base (up to transverse bar). Circular inscription, beginning at twelve o'clock, between two borders of dots:

+ΚΕΟΗΘ....ΣΔΟΥΛ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ[ει τῷ] σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of four lines followed by decoration. Border of dots.

.ΝΙΚΟ
..ΟΥˊΣΠ
..ΡΤΟΝΟΠ

.ΗΜΤΟΝ
 

Νικο[λά]ου βα(σιλικοῦ) σπα[θ(αρίου) (καὶ) χ]αρ(τουλαρίου) τον Ὀπ[τ]ημάτον

Obverse

Cross with wide arms on four steps with fleurons arising from base (up to transverse bar). Circular inscription, beginning at twelve o'clock, between two borders of dots:

+ΚΕΟΗΘ....ΣΔΟΥΛ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ[ει τῷ] σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of four lines followed by decoration. Border of dots.

.ΝΙΚΟ
..ΟΥˊΣΠ
..ΡΤΟΝΟΠ

.ΗΜΤΟΝ
 

Νικο[λά]ου βα(σιλικοῦ) σπα[θ(αρίου) (καὶ) χ]αρ(τουλαρίου) τον Ὀπ[τ]ημάτον

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.455
Diameter 23.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 3, no. 71.3

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ. Νικολάου βασιλικοῦ σπαθαρίου καὶ χαρτουλαρίου τον Ὀπτημάτον.

Lord, help your servant. (Seal of) Nicholas, imperial spatharios and chartoularios of the Optimatoi.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient (Open in Zotero)
  • Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Praetorians: An Administrative, Institutional, and Social Survey of the Opsikion and Tagmata, c. 580-900 (Open in Zotero)
  • Die byzantinische Armee im 10. und 11. Jahrhundert: Studien zur Organisation der Tagmata (Open in Zotero)