Samonas protospatharios (tenth century)
Obverse
A patriarchal cross mounted on a base of three steps with ornamental flowers. Along the circumference a circular inscription:
ΣΔΟΥ̣Λ̣.
[Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ] σῷ δούλ(ῳ)
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
ΣΦΡΑ̣.
ΙΣΣΑ̣Μ̣
Ν̣ΑΤΑ,.
ΠΑΘΑΡ,
σφρα[γ]ὶς Σαμωνᾶ τῷ (πρωτο)[σ]παθαρ(ίου)
Obverse
A patriarchal cross mounted on a base of three steps with ornamental flowers. Along the circumference a circular inscription:
ΣΔΟΥ̣Λ̣.
[Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ] σῷ δούλ(ῳ)
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
ΣΦΡΑ̣.
ΙΣΣΑ̣Μ̣
Ν̣ΑΤΑ,.
ΠΑΘΑΡ,
σφρα[γ]ὶς Σαμωνᾶ τῷ (πρωτο)[σ]παθαρ(ίου)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1154 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 20.0 mm |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ. σφραγὶς Σαμωνᾶ τῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίου.
Lord help your servant. Seal of Samonas, protospatharios.
Commentary
The inscription on the reverse is grammatically confused. The owner's Christian name appears to end in the genitive case; it is followed by a here superfluous definite article in the dative case, while the abbreviated title protospatharios could be read in either the genitive or dative case. Since the reverse inscription opens with the word σφραγὶς, as in "seal of," we read the owner's name in the genitive and regard the definite article as an engraver's mistake.