Constantine imperial strator and protonotarios of Macedonia (ninth/tenth century)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on four steps. Circular inscription between two borders of dots, followed by a star-shaped decoration.
ΚΟΗΘΗΤΣΔΟΥΛ
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines preceded and followed by row of pellets. Border of dots.
···
ΚΝΣΤ
ΑΝΤΣΤΡ
ΑΤΑΝΟΤ
Τ,ΜΑΚΕΔ
···
Κωνσταντίνῳ βασιλικῷ στράτορι καὶ πρωτονοταρίῳ τῆς Μακεδονίας
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on four steps. Circular inscription between two borders of dots, followed by a star-shaped decoration.
ΚΟΗΘΗΤΣΔΟΥΛ
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines preceded and followed by row of pellets. Border of dots.
···
ΚΝΣΤ
ΑΝΤΣΤΡ
ΑΤΑΝΟΤ
Τ,ΜΑΚΕΔ
···
Κωνσταντίνῳ βασιλικῷ στράτορι καὶ πρωτονοταρίῳ τῆς Μακεδονίας
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.3488 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 23.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 43.20. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Κωνσταντίνῳ βασιλικῷ στράτορι καὶ πρωτονοταρίῳ τῆς Μακεδονίας.
Lord, help your servant Constantine imperial strator and protonotarios of Macedonia.
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
- Philippes et la Macédoine orientale à l'époque chrétienne et byzantine; recherches d'histoire et d'archéologie
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung
- La Macédoine orientale à l'époque byzantine
- Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin
- Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. 1
- Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. 2
- Theophanes Continuatus, Ioannes Cameniata, Symeon Magister, Georgius Monachus
Commentary
This seal and BZS.1947.2.101 certainly belonged to the same person: they are from the same period and are nearly identical, although the other is considerably larger than this. Constantine changed his seal when he was promoted to the immediately higher dignity of spatharios.