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Leo ostiarios, son (or protégé) of the kanikleiou (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Indistinct bust, likely the Virgin holding the medallion. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, preceded and followed by a decoration. Border of dots.


λεν
.στιαρ
.οντ.
ανικλ,

Λέωντα στιάριον τὸν τοῦ κανικλείου

Obverse

Indistinct bust, likely the Virgin holding the medallion. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, preceded and followed by a decoration. Border of dots.


λεν
.στιαρ
.οντ.
ανικλ,

Λέωντα στιάριον τὸν τοῦ κανικλείου

Accession number BZS.1958.106.1107
Diameter 26.0 mm

Translation

Λέωντα ὀστιάριον τὸν τοῦ κανικλείου.

Leo ostiarios, son (or protégé) of the (epi tou) kanikleiou.

Commentary

The reading of this seal is by no means straightforward. It could also be read Λέωντα ὀστιάριον τοῦ κανικλείου, but this finds no support in the sources which do not mention any such ostiarios of the kanikleion. In fact, the epi tou kanikleiou had no subordinates: Listes, 121. The reading we give here suggests that Leo was the son or protégé of the epi tou kanikleiou, a more likely but not ironclad hypothesis.