Michael protospatharios, hypatos, and strategos of Euxeinos Pontos (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St Nicholas blessing and holding a book. Inscription in two columns: Ο|Α|Γ|ΙΝ|Ι|ΚΟ|Λ|Α, : ὁ ἅγιος Νικόλα(ος). No visible border.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines, the final letter between two horizontal bars. Border of dots.
+ΚΕ̅,Θ,
ΜΙΧΑΗΛ
ΑˋΣΠΑΘΑΡ,
ΥΠΑΤΣΤΡ,
ΤΙΓ,ΤΕΥ
ΞΝΠˊΝ
Τ,
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Μιχαὴλ (πρωτο)σπαθαρ(ίῳ), ὑπάτ(ῳ) (καὶ) στρ(α)τιγ(ῷ) τοῦ Εὐξ(εί)νου Π(ό)ντ(ου)
Obverse
Bust of St Nicholas blessing and holding a book. Inscription in two columns: Ο|Α|Γ|ΙΝ|Ι|ΚΟ|Λ|Α, : ὁ ἅγιος Νικόλα(ος). No visible border.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines, the final letter between two horizontal bars. Border of dots.
+ΚΕ̅,Θ,
ΜΙΧΑΗΛ
ΑˋΣΠΑΘΑΡ,
ΥΠΑΤΣΤΡ,
ΤΙΓ,ΤΕΥ
ΞΝΠˊΝ
Τ,
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Μιχαὴλ (πρωτο)σπαθαρ(ίῳ), ὑπάτ(ῳ) (καὶ) στρ(α)τιγ(ῷ) τοῦ Εὐξ(εί)νου Π(ό)ντ(ου)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.463 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 26.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Mušmov, Vizantijski, 348, no. 51. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Μιχαὴλ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ, ὑπάτῳ καὶ στρατιγῷ τοῦ Εὐξείνου Πόντου.
Lord, help Michael protospatharios, hypatos, and strategos of Euxeinos Pontos.
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)
- Un grand mystique byzantin: vie de Syméon le Nouveau Théologien (949-1022) (Open in Zotero)
- Molivdovuly grečeskogo Vostoka (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- The Life of Saint Nikon: Text, Translation, and Commentary (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The present specimen seems to be a copy of seal M-6894 of the Hermitage Collection. On the seals of officials active in Pontos, see the commentary to BZS 1951.31.5.108.