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Nikephoros imperial protospatharios and strategos of Chozanon (tenth/eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Decorative cross, set within a border of dots and adorned with pellets, mounted on a ball from which fleurons rise to the lower crossbar. Circular inscription within a border of dots:

..εRοηθειτσδ..

[Κ(ύρι)]ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δ[ούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

+νικη
..σπαθ
καιστρατ
..του
.ο.ν

Νικηφ(όρῳ) [β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)]σπαθ(αρίῳ) καὶ στρατ[ηγ]ῷ τοῦ [Χ]οζ[ά]νου

Obverse

Decorative cross, set within a border of dots and adorned with pellets, mounted on a ball from which fleurons rise to the lower crossbar. Circular inscription within a border of dots:

..εRοηθειτσδ..

[Κ(ύρι)]ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δ[ούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

+νικη
..σπαθ
καιστρατ
..του
.ο.ν

Νικηφ(όρῳ) [β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)]σπαθ(αρίῳ) καὶ στρατ[ηγ]ῷ τοῦ [Χ]οζ[ά]νου

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.869
Diameter 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 60.1.

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

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νικηφόρῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ τοῦ Χοζάνου.

Lord, help your servant Nikephoros, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Chozanon.

Commentary

Chozanon, situated between Kamacha and the Arsanias river, is attested as an Armenian theme by 956 in Arabic sources. Cf. Listes, 359; Mikra Asia them., 347-348 (A. Savvides).

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
  • Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
  • Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)