Constantine vestarches, judge of the Velum, and grand kourator of the sekreton of the Mangana (eleventh century)
Obverse
St Nicholas (left) and St. Menas (right) standing, in profile, raising their hands toward a medallion of Christ. Siglum at left of medallion: Ἱ(ησοῦ)ς [Χ(ριστό)ς]. Inscription in column at left: Ο|ΝΙ|ΚΟ|Λ|Ο ; Ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικόλαο(ς). Inscription in column at right: |Ν|Ο|ΚΑΛ|ΛΙ|ΚΕ|Λ|Ο ; Ὁ ἅ(γιος) Μην(ᾶς) ὁ Καλλικέλ(α)δο(ς). Invocative inscription in column in middle. Border of dots.
ΚΕ
Ο
ΗΘΕΙ
ΤΣ
ΔΛ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of six lines followed by decoration. Border of dots.
Κ̅Ν̅Ε
ΣΤΑΡΧ,ΚΡΙΤ,
ΤΗΛS
ΚΡΑΤΟΡ,Τ
ΣΕΚΡΕΤΤ
ΜΑΓΓΑΝ,
Κων(σταντίνῳ) βεστάρχ(ῃ), κριτ(ῇ) τοῦ βήλου, (καὶ) μ(ε)γ(άλῳ) κουράτορ(ι) τοῦ σεκρέτου τ(ῶν) Μαγγάν(ων)
Obverse
St Nicholas (left) and St. Menas (right) standing, in profile, raising their hands toward a medallion of Christ. Siglum at left of medallion: Ἱ(ησοῦ)ς [Χ(ριστό)ς]. Inscription in column at left: Ο|ΝΙ|ΚΟ|Λ|Ο ; Ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικόλαο(ς). Inscription in column at right: |Ν|Ο|ΚΑΛ|ΛΙ|ΚΕ|Λ|Ο ; Ὁ ἅ(γιος) Μην(ᾶς) ὁ Καλλικέλ(α)δο(ς). Invocative inscription in column in middle. Border of dots.
ΚΕ
Ο
ΗΘΕΙ
ΤΣ
ΔΛ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of six lines followed by decoration. Border of dots.
Κ̅Ν̅Ε
ΣΤΑΡΧ,ΚΡΙΤ,
ΤΗΛS
ΚΡΑΤΟΡ,Τ
ΣΕΚΡΕΤΤ
ΜΑΓΓΑΝ,
Κων(σταντίνῳ) βεστάρχ(ῃ), κριτ(ῇ) τοῦ βήλου, (καὶ) μ(ε)γ(άλῳ) κουράτορ(ι) τοῦ σεκρέτου τ(ῶν) Μαγγάν(ων)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.5709 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 32.0 mm; field: 27.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 25.2. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Κωνσταντίνῳ βεστάρχῃ, κριτῇ τοῦ βήλου, καὶ μεγάλῳ κουράτορι τοῦ σεκρέτου τῶν Μαγγάνων.
Lord, help your servant Constantine vestarches, judge of the Velum, and grand kourator of the sekreton of the Mangana.
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)
- Les sceaux byzantins de la Collection Henri Seyrig (Open in Zotero)
- Les personnages byzantins de l’Alexiade: Analyse prosopographique et synthèse (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
For another depiction of St. Nicholas and St. Menas Kallikelados raising their hands toward a medallion of Christ, see the seal of Constantine (no dignity or function mentioned) published in Zacos II, no. 404 (=Spink I, no. 67; now in the Collection of the Sackler Art Museum, Harvard), and Seyrig, no. 96, the seal of Constantine protoproedros and grand droungarios of the Vigla. It is likely that we are dealing in each case with the same person and that we may identify the Constantine of our seal with the Constantine who was grand droungarios at the beginning of 1074 and who was the first person to be elevated to the dignity of sebastos (before 1078). He was a nephew of Michael Keroularios and a cousin of Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa.
In addition, the same iconography appears on a seal of Michael chartoularios of the dromos and of Charsianon (BZS.1958.106.1959). Skoulatos (Personnages, 208–9) has suggested an affiliation between the Keroularios family and Michael, logothete of the sekreta (1090–1109), to whom this seal seal may belong.