Constantine vestarches, judge of the Velum and strategos of the Stenon (eleventh century)
Obverse
Inscription of five lines. Indeterminate border.
+ΚΕ,Θ,
ΣΔ
̅Ν̅ΕΣ
.ΑΡΧ,ΚΡ
Τ,
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) [τ]ῷ σῷ δ[ού(λῳ)] [Κ]ων(σταντίνῳ) βεσ[τ]άρχ(ῃ), κ[ρ(ι)]τ(ῇ)
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, decoration below. Border of dots.
ΟΥΗ
.ΣΤΡΑ
.ΗΓΤ
.ΤΕΝ
[τ]οῦ βή[λ]ου (καὶ) στρα[τ]ηγῷ τοῦ [Σ]τενοῦ
Obverse
Inscription of five lines. Indeterminate border.
+ΚΕ,Θ,
ΣΔ
̅Ν̅ΕΣ
.ΑΡΧ,ΚΡ
Τ,
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) [τ]ῷ σῷ δ[ού(λῳ)] [Κ]ων(σταντίνῳ) βεσ[τ]άρχ(ῃ), κ[ρ(ι)]τ(ῇ)
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, decoration below. Border of dots.
ΟΥΗ
.ΣΤΡΑ
.ΗΓΤ
.ΤΕΝ
[τ]οῦ βή[λ]ου (καὶ) στρα[τ]ηγῷ τοῦ [Σ]τενοῦ
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.255 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 22.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 73.1. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Κωνσταντίνῳ βεστάρχῃ, κριτῇ τοῦ βήλου καὶ στρατηγῷ τοῦ Στενοῦ.
Lord, help your servant Constantine, vestarches, judge of the Velum, and strategos of Stenon.
Bibliography
- Byzance et la mer: La marine de guerre, la politique et les institutions maritimes de Byzance aux VIIe–VXe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- Documents de sigillographie byzantine: La collection C. Orghidan (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This seal is edited jointly with its better preserved counterpart from the same boulloterion: BZS 1958.1063014.
Another twelfth-century strategos of the Stenon, also a vestarches by the name of Constantine but with the (seemingly Georgian) surname Chapse, is known from his seal of a different type (Laurent, Orghidan, no. 234).
Stenon ("Narrow") is another name for the the Bosporus. The region provided sailors for the imperial navy; some ten galleys of the ploimon were permanently stationed there. The strategos of the Stenon had also the exclusive right to judge all affairs of the Jews of Constantinople up until the very late twelfth century (Rhallès-Potlès I, 41). But other trials were also held at the Stenon (Peira 51, 10). This explains why the owner of this seal, although a strategos, was also a judge attached to the supreme tribunal of Constantinople. On the Stenon, see Ahrweiler, Mer, 102, 122, 403.