Michael, imperial spatharios and tourmarches of Kourikos (tenth century)
Obverse
Largely effaced. No inscription or sigla visible. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines followed by a row of pellets. Border of dots.
ΜΙΧ.
ΗΛ΄ΣΠΑΘ
.ΤΡΟΜΑΡ
Χ.ΤΟΥΚ
ΡΙΚΟΥ
··
Μιχ[α]ὴλ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ) [(καὶ)] τρομάρχ(ῃ) τοῦ Κουρίκου.
Obverse
Largely effaced. No inscription or sigla visible. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines followed by a row of pellets. Border of dots.
ΜΙΧ.
ΗΛ΄ΣΠΑΘ
.ΤΡΟΜΑΡ
Χ.ΤΟΥΚ
ΡΙΚΟΥ
··
Μιχ[α]ὴλ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ) [(καὶ)] τρομάρχ(ῃ) τοῦ Κουρίκου.
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.4484 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 26.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 8.2; for a similar seal: Zacos, Seals II, no. 937. |
Translation
Μιχαὴλ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ τρομάρχῃ τοῦ Κουρίκου.
(Lord or Mother of God, help your servant) Michael imperial spatharios and tourmarches of Kourikos.
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)
- Sceaux byzantins de la collection D. Theodoridis: Les sceaux patronymiques (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Initially an important naval base in the coastal theme of the Kibyrrhaiotai, Korykos was a tourma of Seleukeia during the ninth and tenth centuries. See Hild-Hellenkemper, Kilikien und Isaurien, 315–30; ODB 2:1150.
The Zacos specimen is decorated on the obverse with a griffin facing right.
Cheynet (Collection D. Theodoridis, p. 130) suggests that this specimen dates to the eleventh century and belongs to a Michael Koutrikes (Kourtikios), tourmarches. Reading the final word as a toponym rather than as a patronym is preferred here.