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John, imperial protospatharios, epi tou koitonos, and grand kourator of the Mangana (tenth/eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. Nicholas; book visible in his left hand. Visible at right: Ν|Ι|ΚΟ|Λ : [Ὁ ἅ(γιος)] Νικόλ(αος). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

Ι..
.ΠΑΘ,ΕΠ.
.ΚΟΙΤ.
ΚΡΑΤ..
ΤΝΜΑ.
ΓΑΝ.

Ἰω(άννης) β(ασιλικὸς) [(πρωτο)σ]παθ(άριος) ἐπ[ὶ τ]οῦ κοιτ(ῶνος) [(καὶ)] μ(έ)γ(ας) κουράτ[ωρ] τῶν Μα[γ]γάνω[ν]

Obverse

Bust of St. Nicholas; book visible in his left hand. Visible at right: Ν|Ι|ΚΟ|Λ : [Ὁ ἅ(γιος)] Νικόλ(αος). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

Ι..
.ΠΑΘ,ΕΠ.
.ΚΟΙΤ.
ΚΡΑΤ..
ΤΝΜΑ.
ΓΑΝ.

Ἰω(άννης) β(ασιλικὸς) [(πρωτο)σ]παθ(άριος) ἐπ[ὶ τ]οῦ κοιτ(ῶνος) [(καὶ)] μ(έ)γ(ας) κουράτ[ωρ] τῶν Μα[γ]γάνω[ν]

Accession number BZS.1958.106.2414 (formerly DO 58.106.2414)
Diameter 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 25.5.

Translation

Ἰωάννης βασιλικὸς πρωτοσπαθάριος ἐπὶ τοῦ κοιτῶνος καὶ μέγας κουράτωρ τῶν Μαγγάνων.

John imperial protospatharios epi tou koitonos and grand kourator of Mangana.

Commentary

The term ἐπὶ τοῦ κοιτῶνος suggests that John was a eunuch and the same is probably true of a certain Romanos primikerios, imperial protospatharios, koitonites, and kourator of the Mangana (see Zacos, Seals II, no. 1042 = Spink III, no. 259).

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. 2 (Open in Zotero)