Andrew imperial spatharios and archon of Christoupolis (ninth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: ΤΩΣΩ|ΔΛΩ. Wreath border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
ΝΔΡΕ
ΒΣΠΘ
ΡΧΟΝΤΙΤ
ΧΡΠ
Ἀνδρέᾳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) ἄρχοντι τ(ῆς) Χρ(ιστ)ουπ(όλεως)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: ΤΩΣΩ|ΔΛΩ. Wreath border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
ΝΔΡΕ
ΒΣΠΘ
ΡΧΟΝΤΙΤ
ΧΡΠ
Ἀνδρέᾳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) ἄρχοντι τ(ῆς) Χρ(ιστ)ουπ(όλεως)
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.65 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 29.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 39.1a. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἀνδρέᾳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ ἄρχοντι τῆς Χριστουπόλεως.
Theotokos, help your servant Andreas imperial spatharios and archon of Christoupolis.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
- Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This specimen is from the same boulloterion as BZS.1955.1.677.
Zacos and Veglery were hesitant about the resolution of ΧΡΠ: Χριστουπόλεως or Χρούπου (for Χρήπου), or perhaps Εὐρίπου? On balance, it seems more probably that Christoupolis is meant here.
Christoupolis (ancient Neapolis; modern Kavalla) was a seaport on the Aegean coastline, facing the island of Thasos. Already a suffragan bishopric of Philippoi in 879, it was an important stronghold for the Byzantine administration, traditionally supported by sea--hence the presence there of a ninth-century droungarios (DO Seals 1, no. 39.4). The city was governed by an archon and became an important outlet for trade with its hinterland, as indicated by the presence of kommerkiarioi (in addition to ours, there are seals of an archon and of three kommerkiarioi in Sig., 114 and Zacos, Seals II, no. 205; cf. Oikonomides, Abydos). For the history of the city, see Lemerle, Philippes, 128, 132ff.