Nicholas patrikios, judge of the Hippodrome and of the Thrakesioi (eleventh century)
Obverse
Faint outline of the Virgin standing, holding Christ on right arm. No discernible epigraphy. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines, preceded by an ornament, the final letter between two bars. Border of dots.
θκεR,θ,
τσδ,
νικολ,π̅ρ̅ι̅
κριτ,επιτ,
ιοδρ,μ,
Sτ̅θρακ,
-σ,-
Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δού(λῳ) Νικολ(άῳ) π(ατ)ρι(κίῳ), κριτ(ῇ) ἐπὶ τ(οῦ) Ἱπποδρ(ό)μ(ου) (καὶ) τ(ῶν) Θρᾳκ(η)σ(ίων).
Obverse
Faint outline of the Virgin standing, holding Christ on right arm. No discernible epigraphy. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines, preceded by an ornament, the final letter between two bars. Border of dots.
θκεR,θ,
τσδ,
νικολ,π̅ρ̅ι̅
κριτ,επιτ,
ιοδρ,μ,
Sτ̅θρακ,
-σ,-
Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δού(λῳ) Νικολ(άῳ) π(ατ)ρι(κίῳ), κριτ(ῇ) ἐπὶ τ(οῦ) Ἱπποδρ(ό)μ(ου) (καὶ) τ(ῶν) Θρᾳκ(η)σ(ίων).
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.4065 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 35.0 mm; field: 32.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 2.19. J. Nesbitt in SBS 2 (1990) 87-88. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νικολάῳ πατρικίῳ, κριτῇ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἱπποδρόμου καὶ τῶν Θρᾳκησίων.
Mother of God, help your servant Nicholas patrikios, judge of the Hippodrome and of the Thrakesioi.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient (Open in Zotero)
- Constantini Porphyrogeniti De cerimoniis aulae byzantinae (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Praetorians: An Administrative, Institutional, and Social Survey of the Opsikion and Tagmata, c. 580-900 (Open in Zotero)
- Theophanis Chronographia (Open in Zotero)
- L’histoire et la géographie de la région de Smyrne entre les deux occupations turques (1081-1317), particulièrement au XIIIe siècle (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- “Thrakien” und “Thrakesion” (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
- Studies in Byzantine Sigillography (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
On the obverse, traces from the original strike remain, showing a nimbate head and parts of a circular inscription: οηθ. On the reverse, at the top and at an angle, the following letters can be seen: χο|α,|επτ,|τε. The original strike appears to date from the same period as the overstrike and is situated at 45 degrees in relation to the overstrike.