Michael imperial spatharios, epeiktes of the konchyle of the Thrakesioi (tenth century)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on four steps with fleurons arising from base (up to lower transverse bar). The first transverse arm is in the design of a cross potent, but the upper one is flaring at the ends. Circular inscription along a border of dots.
+κεRοηθητσδλ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
+μιχα
ηλRσπαθ,
επικτ,τησ
κογχυλ/το
νθρακ/
Μιχαὴλ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ), ἐπίκτ(ῃ) τῆς κογχύλ(ης) τον Θρᾳκ(ησίων)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on four steps with fleurons arising from base (up to lower transverse bar). The first transverse arm is in the design of a cross potent, but the upper one is flaring at the ends. Circular inscription along a border of dots.
+κεRοηθητσδλ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
+μιχα
ηλRσπαθ,
επικτ,τησ
κογχυλ/το
νθρακ/
Μιχαὴλ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ), ἐπίκτ(ῃ) τῆς κογχύλ(ης) τον Θρᾳκ(ησίων)
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.1546 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm; field: 19.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 2.8. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ, ἐπίκτῃ τῆς κογχύλης τον Θρᾳκησίων.
Lord, help your servant Michael, imperial spatharios, epeiktes of the konchyle of the Thrakesioi.
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)
- Constantini Porphyrogeniti De cerimoniis aulae byzantinae (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Praetorians: An Administrative, Institutional, and Social Survey of the Opsikion and Tagmata, c. 580-900 (Open in Zotero)
- Theophanis Chronographia (Open in Zotero)
- L’histoire et la géographie de la région de Smyrne entre les deux occupations turques (1081-1317), particulièrement au XIIIe siècle (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- “Thrakien” und “Thrakesion” (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
- De Administrando Imperio (Open in Zotero)
- Actes de Lavra, Vol. 1, Des origines à 1204 (Open in Zotero)
- Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis historiarum (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The epeiktes of the konchyle was certainly related to purple-fishing along the shores of the Thrakesion (cf. De Adm. Imp., chap. 52, line 11; Commentary, 205). As his title of epeiktes shows, Michael supervised and regulated the activities of the actual fishermen (the term is explained, in a different context, in Listes, 339). Another epeiktes is attested in Lemnos (early eleventh century) but without the complement tes konchyles (Lavra I, no. 20, line 79 and commentary). Note also a passing reference to a Christophoros epeiktes or (Epeiktes?) who was active in the Thrakesion ca. 979 (Skylitzes, 328).