Michael imperial protospatharios and strategos of the Paphlagonians (tenth century)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on four steps; pellets surround the lower crossing. Circular inscription between concentric circles of dots.
κεRοηθντσδλ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθν [sic] τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)
Reverse
Inscription of five lines; traces of decoration above and below.
μιχη
λRσπθ
ρSστρτι
γτπφλ
γον
Μιχαὴλ β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθαρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) στρατιγ(ῷ) τῶ(ν) Παφλαγόνω(ν)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on four steps; pellets surround the lower crossing. Circular inscription between concentric circles of dots.
κεRοηθντσδλ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθν [sic] τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)
Reverse
Inscription of five lines; traces of decoration above and below.
μιχη
λRσπθ
ρSστρτι
γτπφλ
γον
Μιχαὴλ β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθαρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) στρατιγ(ῷ) τῶ(ν) Παφλαγόνω(ν)
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.1559 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 26.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 11.37a. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατιγῷ τῶν Παφλαγόνων.
Lord, help your servant Michael, imperial protospatharios and strategos of the Paphlagonians.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantinische Bleisiegel in Berlin II (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- De Thematibus (Open in Zotero)
- Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (Open in Zotero)
- Paphlagonien und Honorias (Open in Zotero)
- Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This seal comes from the same boulloterion as BZS.1958.106.4326.
The spelling τῶν Παφλαγόνων brings to mind the appellations of the early themes named after their soldiers (Ἀνατολικῶν, Ἀρμενιακῶν etc.) and not after the name of a province.— Note the mistake on the obverse: an Ν instead of an Η in βοήθη. It seems that the unskilled engraver copied a model — and confused two similar letters.