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
κτδιο
κμιλι
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.
Bibliography
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
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.