John protospatharios, judge of the Hippodrome and skribas (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of the Archangel Michael holding the sceptre over his right shoulder and the globus cruciger in his left hand. Sigla faintly visible at left: Μ|Ι : Μι[χα(ήλ)]. Border of dots.
Reverse
An inscription of five lines, a cross of dots above and below. Border of dots.
.ΚΕ,Θ,
Ι̣̣ΣΠ.
.ΡΙΤ,ΕΠ.
.Ι,.
.ΚΡΙ̣.
[Θ(εοτό)]κε β(οή)θ(ει) Ἰω(άννῃ) (πρωτο)σπα[θ(αρίῳ), κ]ριτ(ῇ) ἐπ[ὶ τ]οῦ Ἱππ(ο)δ(ρόμου) [(καὶ) σ]κρίβ(ᾳ)
Obverse
Bust of the Archangel Michael holding the sceptre over his right shoulder and the globus cruciger in his left hand. Sigla faintly visible at left: Μ|Ι : Μι[χα(ήλ)]. Border of dots.
Reverse
An inscription of five lines, a cross of dots above and below. Border of dots.
.ΚΕ,Θ,
Ι̣̣ΣΠ.
.ΡΙΤ,ΕΠ.
.Ι,.
.ΚΡΙ̣.
[Θ(εοτό)]κε β(οή)θ(ει) Ἰω(άννῃ) (πρωτο)σπα[θ(αρίῳ), κ]ριτ(ῇ) ἐπ[ὶ τ]οῦ Ἱππ(ο)δ(ρόμου) [(καὶ) σ]κρίβ(ᾳ)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1607 |
|---|---|
| Condition | Pressed flat along the sides. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει Ἰωάννῃ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ, κριτῇ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἱπποδρόμου καὶ σκρίβᾳ.
Mother of God, help John protospatharios, judge of the Hippodrome, and skribas.
Commentary
We have read the last line of the reverse as καὶ σκρίβᾳ, in other words, the rarely attested office of skribas; but it is also possible that the owner's family name was Skribas which is attested on another DO seal (BZS.1958.106.4416).