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Leo imperial protospatharios and eparchos of the City (ninth/tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on four steps. Circular inscription, beginning at 7 o'clock, between a double border of dots.

ΚΕΟΗΘΗ.ΣΔΟΥΛ /

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη [τ]ῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of five lines preceded and followed by decoration, the last line ending with a leafy decoration. Border of dots.


ΛΕΟΝ
ΤΙΣΠ
ΘΡΙ..Π
ΡΧΟΠΟΛ
ΕΟΣ


Λέοντι β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθαρίῳ [(καὶ) ἐ]πάρχο Πόλεος

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on four steps. Circular inscription, beginning at 7 o'clock, between a double border of dots.

ΚΕΟΗΘΗ.ΣΔΟΥΛ /

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη [τ]ῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of five lines preceded and followed by decoration, the last line ending with a leafy decoration. Border of dots.


ΛΕΟΝ
ΤΙΣΠ
ΘΡΙ..Π
ΡΧΟΠΟΛ
ΕΟΣ


Λέοντι β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθαρίῳ [(καὶ) ἐ]πάρχο Πόλεος

Accession number BZS 1955.1.1521
Diameter 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 22.3b. A parallel seal is Laurent, Corpus 2: no. 1012 (= BZS 1955.1.1520).

Translation

Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Λέοντι βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ ἐπάρχο Πόλεος.

Lord, help your servant Leo imperial protospatharios and eparchos of the City.

Commentary

Laurent has postulated that the owner of this seal is the same as BZS.1958.106.1691, but of course the name is common.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)