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Epiphanios imperial (proto?)spatharios and tourmarches of Thrace (ninth century)

 
 

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (probably type V); in the quarters: ΤΣ.|Δ. Indeterminate border.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in at least four lines. Indeterminate border.

ιφ
σπθ,
μρχ
κισ

Ἐπιφανίῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτο?σπαθαρίῳ καὶ τουρμάρχ Θρᾴκης

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (probably type V); in the quarters: ΤΣ.|Δ. Indeterminate border.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in at least four lines. Indeterminate border.

ιφ
σπθ,
μρχ
κισ

Ἐπιφανίῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτο?σπαθαρίῳ καὶ τουρμάρχ Θρᾴκης

Accession number BZS.1958.106.2714
Diameter 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 71.39.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἐπιφανίῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ τουρμάρχῃ Θρᾴκης.

Theotokos, help your servant Epiphanios imperial protospatharios and tourmarches of Thrace.

Commentary

Another seal of a tourmarches of Thrace is published by Zacos-Veglery, no. 2623a. A tourmarches designated by the name of the theme in which he resided is not uncommon (cf. Zacos-Veglery I/3, 1900, s.v. τουρμάρχης: Anatolikoi, Boukellarioi, Hellas, Kibyrraioitai, etc.); he was probably in command of part of the theme's troops, presumably those recruited and stationed near the seat of the strategos. It may be that the tourmarches "of Thrace" commanded the troops of Arkadioupolis.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
  • De Thematibus (Open in Zotero)
  • “Thrakien” und “Thrakesion” (Open in Zotero)
  • Die zweihundertjährige Reform (Zu den Anfängen der Themenorganisation im 7. und 8. Jahrhundert) (Open in Zotero)
  • Ανίχνευση τοπογραφική της ανατολικής Θράκης (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
  • La Thrace Orientale et La Mer Noire: Géographie Ecclésiastique et Prosopographie (VIIIe-XIIe Siècles) (Open in Zotero)
  • Constantini Porphyrogeniti De cerimoniis aulae byzantinae (Open in Zotero)