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Michael Monokarites protospatharios and chartoularios of the theme of Paphlagonia (tenth/eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of four lines, a decoration below. Border of dots.

κεR,θ,
τσοδ
λ,μιχη΄
σπθ

Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ) Μιχαὴ(λ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

Sτλ,
θεμτο,
παφλγ,
τμον,
καρ

(καὶ) χ(α)ρτουλ(αρίῳ) θέματο(ς) Παφλαγ(ονίας) τῷ Μον(ο)καρ(ίτῃ)

Obverse

Inscription of four lines, a decoration below. Border of dots.

κεR,θ,
τσοδ
λ,μιχη΄
σπθ

Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ) Μιχαὴ(λ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

Sτλ,
θεμτο,
παφλγ,
τμον,
καρ

(καὶ) χ(α)ρτουλ(αρίῳ) θέματο(ς) Παφλαγ(ονίας) τῷ Μον(ο)καρ(ίτῃ)

Accession number BZS.1958.106.5084
Diameter 20.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 11.3.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ χαρτουλαρίῳ θέματος Παφλαγονίας τῷ Μονοκαρίτῃ.

Lord, help your servant Michael Monokarites, protospatharios and chartoularios of the theme of Paphlagonia.

Commentary

Another seal likely from the same individual, the protospatharios Michael Monokarites, then judge of Thrace and Macedonia, was published by Laurent, Orghidan, no. 241 (with too late a date, according to our opinion, cf. plate LXVI). The Orghidan specimen proves that we have the correct ending. Our specimen clearly shows the name Μονοκαρίτης (and not Μονοχαρίτης, as proposed by Laurent) which means a person from a place called Monokaria.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
  • Documents de sigillographie byzantine: La collection C. Orghidan (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantinische Bleisiegel in Berlin II (Open in Zotero)
  • De Thematibus (Open in Zotero)
  • Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (Open in Zotero)
  • Paphlagonien und Honorias (Open in Zotero)
  • Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)