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Theophylaktos dioiketes of Miletos (eighth century)

 
 

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). In the quarters: τ-σ|δ-λ. Wreath border.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Wreath border:

θε
οφυλα
κτδιο
κμιλι
του.

Θεοφυλάκτῳ διο<ι>κ(ητῇ) Μιλίτου

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). In the quarters: τ-σ|δ-λ. Wreath border.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Wreath border:

θε
οφυλα
κτδιο
κμιλι
του.

Θεοφυλάκτῳ διο<ι>κ(ητῇ) Μιλίτου

Accession number BZS.1947.2.110
Diameter 26.0 mm; field: 23.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 3, no. 26.2a. Zacos-Veglery, no. 3203.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοφυλάκτῳ διοικητῇ Μιλίτου.

Mother of God, help your servant Theophylaktos, dioiketes of Miletos.

Commentary

This seal and BZS.1947.2.111 come from the same boulloterion.

This famous city of antiquity obviously kept its name into the ninth century when it still constituted the center of a fiscal unit (διοίκησις); but the city was enclosed within fortifications, mainly in the old theater, and took a new name, Palatia (modern Balat), due to its spectacular antiquities. It was a bishopric as early as the fourth century, had become archbishopric by 538, and became metropolis in the twelfth century. See Laurent, Corpus V/1, 543; Brandes, Städte, 89-92; ODB II, 1372-73.

Bibliography