Niketas proedros, strategos of Samos and logothetes tou Dromou (eleventh century)
Obverse
The Virgin standing on a suppedion, raising her hands up to her left, where traces of the hand of God are visible. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines preceded and followed by an ornament. Border of dots.
ΘΚΕΟΗΘ,
ΤΣΔΛ
..ΚΗΤΑΠΡΟΕ
..ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓ,
..ΣΣΑΜΚΑΙ
.ΟΓΟΘΕΤΗ
ΤΔΡΟΜ,
Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλῳ [Νι]κήτᾳ προέ[δρ]ῳ, στρατηγ(ῷ) [τῆ]ς Σάμου καὶ [λ]ογοθέτῃ τοῦ Δρόμ(ου)
Obverse
The Virgin standing on a suppedion, raising her hands up to her left, where traces of the hand of God are visible. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines preceded and followed by an ornament. Border of dots.
ΘΚΕΟΗΘ,
ΤΣΔΛ
..ΚΗΤΑΠΡΟΕ
..ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓ,
..ΣΣΑΜΚΑΙ
.ΟΓΟΘΕΤΗ
ΤΔΡΟΜ,
Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλῳ [Νι]κήτᾳ προέ[δρ]ῳ, στρατηγ(ῷ) [τῆ]ς Σάμου καὶ [λ]ογοθέτῃ τοῦ Δρόμ(ου)
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.146 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 31.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 2, no. 44.9. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νικήτᾳ προέδρῳ, στρατηγῷ τῆς Σάμου καὶ λογοθέτῃ τοῦ Δρόμου.
Theotokos, help your your servant Niketas proedros, strategos of Samos and logothetes tou Dromos.
Commentary
The owner is identical with the owner of another DO seal (BZS 1958.106.5516), but at a slightly later date because the title proedros is superior to sebastophoros. The specimen has the same obverse (with the difference being that the Virgin is turned to the other side), and we know that in January 1055 (a date that fits our seal) the logothetes of the dromos was called Niketas Xylinites (Skylitzes, 478). Niketas still had this post in 1057 (Skylitzes, 490). A third seal, belonging to the same Niketas Xylinites (similar date, iconography, and titles: proedros and logothetes of the dromos), is published in Laurent, Corpus II, no. 435. See also PBW: Niketas 107.