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Nicholas imperial spatharios and kommerkiarios of the West (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.

ΘΕ̅
οειθ,
τσδ
ουλ,

Θεω(τόκε) βοείθ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

νηκο
.αο,σπα
.κεκμερ
.ιαριο.
.σεοσ

Νηκο[λ]άο β(ασιλικῷ) σπα[θ(αρίῳ)] κὲ κωμερ[κ]ιαρίο <τῆς> [Δύ]σεως

Obverse

Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.

ΘΕ̅
οειθ,
τσδ
ουλ,

Θεω(τόκε) βοείθ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

νηκο
.αο,σπα
.κεκμερ
.ιαριο.
.σεοσ

Νηκο[λ]άο β(ασιλικῷ) σπα[θ(αρίῳ)] κὲ κωμερ[κ]ιαρίο <τῆς> [Δύ]σεως

Accession number BZS.1958.106.4339
Diameter 25.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 1.29.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νικολάῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ κὲ κομμερκιαρίῳ τῆς Δύσεως.

Theotokos, help your servant Nicholas imperial spatharios and kommerkiarios of the West.

Commentary

The quality of engraving on the obverse is strikingly poor when compared to the reverse, probably because the obverse side had to be replaced when Nicholas was serving away from major urban centers, while the reverse side remained as it was fabricated at the time of his appointment, probably in Constantinople. Cf. SBS 1 (1987) 98: two other cases where one (the reverse) side of the boulloterion was replaced.

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)