Skip to Content

Theodore patrikios, imperial notarios of the eidikon, and praitor of Constantinople (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. Demetrios holding a shield in his left hand. Inscription in two columns: |.|.|.Η|Τ|ΡΙΟ, : ὁ ἅ(γιος) [Δημ]ήτριο(ς). Circular inscription, beginning at twelve o'clock, between two borders of dots.

....ΗΘ.ΤΣΛ

[Κ(ύρι)ε βο]ήθ[η] τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of six lines preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.

 .ΕΟΡ, 
..Ι̅⸣ ⸣ ΝΟΤΑ̅⸣
.ΕΙΙΚ.ΚΑΙ
ΠΡΑΙΤΡΙ
ΚΝΣΤΑΝ
ΤΙΝΠΟΛΕ,
  

[Θ]εοδώρ(ῳ) [π(ατ)]ρι(κίῳ), β(ασιλικῷ) νοτα(ρίῳ) [τ]οῦ εἰδικοῦ καὶ πραίτωρι Κωνσταντιν(ου)πόλε(ως)

Obverse

Bust of St. Demetrios holding a shield in his left hand. Inscription in two columns: |.|.|.Η|Τ|ΡΙΟ, : ὁ ἅ(γιος) [Δημ]ήτριο(ς). Circular inscription, beginning at twelve o'clock, between two borders of dots.

....ΗΘ.ΤΣΛ

[Κ(ύρι)ε βο]ήθ[η] τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of six lines preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.

 .ΕΟΡ, 
..Ι̅⸣ ⸣ ΝΟΤΑ̅⸣
.ΕΙΙΚ.ΚΑΙ
ΠΡΑΙΤΡΙ
ΚΝΣΤΑΝ
ΤΙΝΠΟΛΕ,
  

[Θ]εοδώρ(ῳ) [π(ατ)]ρι(κίῳ), β(ασιλικῷ) νοτα(ρίῳ) [τ]οῦ εἰδικοῦ καὶ πραίτωρι Κωνσταντιν(ου)πόλε(ως)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1603
Diameter 39.0 mm; field: 27.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 28.3; Laurent, Corpus 2: no. 1143 (with a slightly different reading).

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοδώρῳ πατρικίῳ, βασιλικῷ νοταρίῳ τοῦ εἰδικοῦ καὶ πραίτωρι Κωνσταντινουπόλεως.

Lord, help your servant Theodore patrikios, imperial notarios of the eidikon, and praitor of Constantinople.

Commentary

As a notarios of the eidikon Theodore served as a financial official attached to an imperial treasury. Among other duties the eidikon looked after precious objects made of gold and silk (see Listes, 316–17). If Theodore's post as notarios of the eidikon is any guide, the praitor of Constantinople may have been a financial administrator who performed liaison functions between the imperial court and merchants and workmen. For the seal of another official who served as notarios of the eidikon and praitor of Constantinople, see Zacos, Seals II, no. 650 (= Spink I, no. 72).

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 Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)