Eustathios, imperial spatharokandidatos and kleisouriarches of Seleukeia (ninth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V?). In quarters: .Σ|..Λ. : [τ]ῷ σῷ [δού]λ[ῳ]. No visible border.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. No visible border.
..ΣΤΑΘ
./ΣΠΑΘ
..ΟΚΑ.ΔΙ
..ΛΙΣΡΙΑ
..ΣΕΛΕΥΚ
[Εὐ]σταθ[ί]ῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ[αρ]οκα[ν]δι[δ(άτῳ) (καὶ) κ]λισουριά[ρχῃ] Σελευκ(είας).
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V?). In quarters: .Σ|..Λ. : [τ]ῷ σῷ [δού]λ[ῳ]. No visible border.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. No visible border.
..ΣΤΑΘ
./ΣΠΑΘ
..ΟΚΑ.ΔΙ
..ΛΙΣΡΙΑ
..ΣΕΛΕΥΚ
[Εὐ]σταθ[ί]ῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ[αρ]οκα[ν]δι[δ(άτῳ) (καὶ) κ]λισουριά[ρχῃ] Σελευκ(είας).
| Accession number | BZS 1955.1.864 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 29.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 6.10; Zacos-Veglery, no. 1902. Another specimen is reproduced in the Hirsch catalgue, Sale 185 (15–18 February 1995), no. 1502; cf. Künker, Sale 30 (27–29 September 1995), no. 974. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Εὐσταθίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαροκανδιδάτῳ καὶ κλισουριάρχῃ Σελευκείας.
Mother of God, help your servant Eustathios, imperial spatharokandidatos and kleisouriarches of Seleukeia.
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)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Following the loss of Cilicia to the Arabs in the eighth century, the region of Seleukeia was reorganized for the defense of the Byzantine borderlands and became an administrative and military kleisoura, first attested in the first half of the ninth century. It was elevated to the status of a theme during the reign of Romanos I Lekapenos, between 927 and 934.