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Stephen imperial cleric, kouboukleisios, and grand kourator of the oikos of the emperor Romanos (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

An elaborate cross on an ionic column capital on two steps, with two pellets beyond the left and right arms of the cross and a single pellet above the top arm, and fleurons rising from the steps. Circular inscription inside linear border.

κε.......σωδουλω

Κ(ύρι)ε β[οήθει τῷ] σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in six lines with pellets below. Linear border.

στεφα
ν,ˊκλιρικ,
κουουκλισ,
μεγ,κουρα
τυκ,ρωμα
ν,δεσπ,
· · ·

Στεφάν(ῳ) β(ασιλικῷ) κλιρικ(ῷ), κουβουκλισ(ίῳ) (καὶ) μεγ(άλῳ) κουρά(τωρι) τοῦ ὔκ(ου) Ῥωμαν(οῦ) δεσπ(ότου)

Obverse

An elaborate cross on an ionic column capital on two steps, with two pellets beyond the left and right arms of the cross and a single pellet above the top arm, and fleurons rising from the steps. Circular inscription inside linear border.

κε.......σωδουλω

Κ(ύρι)ε β[οήθει τῷ] σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in six lines with pellets below. Linear border.

στεφα
ν,ˊκλιρικ,
κουουκλισ,
μεγ,κουρα
τυκ,ρωμα
ν,δεσπ,
· · ·

Στεφάν(ῳ) β(ασιλικῷ) κλιρικ(ῷ), κουβουκλισ(ίῳ) (καὶ) μεγ(άλῳ) κουρά(τωρι) τοῦ ὔκ(ου) Ῥωμαν(οῦ) δεσπ(ότου)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.676
Diameter 20.0 mm
Previous Editions

Laurent, "Sceaux Byzantines inédits," BZ 33 (1933) 331-61, no. 13.

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

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Στεφάνῳ βασιλικῷ κλιρικῷ, κουβουκλισίῳ καὶ μεγάλῳ κουράτωρι τοῦ ὔκου Ῥωμανοῦ δεσπότου.

Lord, help your servant Stephen imperial cleric, koubikoularios and grand kourator of the oikos of the emperor Romanos.

Commentary

The "oikos of Romanos" mentioned here on this seal is likely the Myrelaion, while the owner of this seal will have been the kourator of the monastery that Romanos I Lekapenos (920-944) endowed; Laurent accepted this as a possible explanation, but viewed the oikos more broadly as the palace and property of the late emperor. 

Bibliography