Nicholas Ourbitziotes, protospatharios epi tou Chrysotriklinou and protonotarios (eleventh century)
Obverse
Standing figures of the Virgin (left) and St. Nicholas. Sigla to the left, both between and to the right of the figures: ̅ : θυ̅||.|. : κ|ο|λ|α, : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ and ὁ ἅ(γιος) [Νι]κόλα(ος). Linear border.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.
κερθ
νικολα
αˋσπαθαρι,
επιτ,Γ̅κλ̅
..νοταρ,
τρι.
ιτˊ
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικολά(ῳ) (πρωτο)σπαθαρί(ῳ) ἐπὶ τ(οῦ) Χρ(υσο)(τρι)κλ(ίνου) [(καὶ) (πρωτο)]νοταρ[ίῳ] τῷ Οὐρβι[τ]ζιώτ(ῃ)
Obverse
Standing figures of the Virgin (left) and St. Nicholas. Sigla to the left, both between and to the right of the figures: ̅ : θυ̅||.|. : κ|ο|λ|α, : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ and ὁ ἅ(γιος) [Νι]κόλα(ος). Linear border.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.
κερθ
νικολα
αˋσπαθαρι,
επιτ,Γ̅κλ̅
..νοταρ,
τρι.
ιτˊ
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικολά(ῳ) (πρωτο)σπαθαρί(ῳ) ἐπὶ τ(οῦ) Χρ(υσο)(τρι)κλ(ίνου) [(καὶ) (πρωτο)]νοταρ[ίῳ] τῷ Οὐρβι[τ]ζιώτ(ῃ)
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.3209 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | W. Seibt, "Urbitziotes Nikolaos -- ein byzantinischer Functionär aus dem bulgarischen Urvič im 11. Jahrhundert," in: Studia Academica Šumenensia. Contribution to Byzantine Sigillography. Ed. Ivan Jordanov and Ivo Topalilov, Vol. 5 (2018), 68-71 (proposing a date in the middle of the eleventh century). |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Νικολάῳ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ ἐπὶ τοῦ Χρυσοτρικλίνου καὶ πρωτονοταρίῳ τῷ Οὐρβιτζιώτῃ.
Lord, help Nicholas Ourbitziotes, protospatharios epi tou Chrysotriklinou and protonotarios.
Commentary
We have followed Seibt's lead in rendering the family name as Ourbitziotes and identifying him as a protonotarios instead of an imperial notarios (although the latter remains a possibility).