Demetrios imperial spatharokandidatos and kommerkiarios of Seleukeia (tenth century)
Obverse
A winged lion at right, with its head turned three-quarters to the front. Circular invocative inscription beginning at 12 o'clock. Border of dots.
........ΤΣΟΥΛ
[Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει] τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
....ΗΤΡ
ΠΑΘΑΡ
Ν̅Κ
ΡΚΗΑΡ
ΛΕΥΚ
[Δημ]ητρ[ίῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σ]παθαρ[οκα]νδ(ι)δ(άτῳ) (καὶ) κου[μμε]ρκηαρ(ίῳ) [Σε]λευκ(είας)
Obverse
A winged lion at right, with its head turned three-quarters to the front. Circular invocative inscription beginning at 12 o'clock. Border of dots.
........ΤΣΟΥΛ
[Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει] τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
....ΗΤΡ
ΠΑΘΑΡ
Ν̅Κ
ΡΚΗΑΡ
ΛΕΥΚ
[Δημ]ητρ[ίῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σ]παθαρ[οκα]νδ(ι)δ(άτῳ) (καὶ) κου[μμε]ρκηαρ(ίῳ) [Σε]λευκ(είας)
| Accession number | BZS 1947.2.151 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 6.17. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Δημητρίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαροκανδιδάτῳ καὶ κουμμερκηαρίῳ Σελευκείας.
Lord, help your servant Demetrios, imperial spatharokandidatos and kommerkiarios of Seleukeia.
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)
- Le livre du préfet; ou, L’édit de l’empereur Léon le Sage sur les corporations de Constantinople (Open in Zotero)
- Das Eparchenbuch Leons des Weisen (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Under Romanos I, between 927 and 934, the kleisoura of Seleukeia was raised to the status of theme. In addition to the presence of imperial domains, managed by episkeptitai, the seals of kommerkiarioi, such as the present example, attest to connections at Seleukeia between land and sea that made it a center for the importation and distribution of silk (see Book of the Prefect, 5.1).