Sergios imperial spatharokandidatos and kommerkiarios of Cherson (tenth century)
Obverse
A long patriarchal cross on steps. In the quarters, small crosses of dots. Along the circumference, and inscription between concentric circles of dots.
....ηθητσ
[Κ(ύρι)ε βο]ήθη τῷ σῷ [δούλῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
σερ
ι/σπ
κνδ/κ
..κηρ/χ
ρσονοσ
Σερ[γ]ίῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπα[θ(αρο)]κανδ(ιδάτῳ) (καὶ) κου[μερ]κηαρ(ίῳ) Χ[ε]ρσόν(ος)
Obverse
A long patriarchal cross on steps. In the quarters, small crosses of dots. Along the circumference, and inscription between concentric circles of dots.
....ηθητσ
[Κ(ύρι)ε βο]ήθη τῷ σῷ [δούλῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
σερ
ι/σπ
κνδ/κ
..κηρ/χ
ρσονοσ
Σερ[γ]ίῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπα[θ(αρο)]κανδ(ιδάτῳ) (καὶ) κου[μερ]κηαρ(ίῳ) Χ[ε]ρσόν(ος)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1781 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 22.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 82.8. See also Alekseyenko, L'administration byzantine de Cherson, no. 105 (3). A similar seal, with the same iconography and arrangement of letters, is published by Laurent, Orghidan, no. 256. Cf. Sokolova, Monety, no. 36. It is not possible to determine if the two seals are from the same boulloterion, since the Orghidan specimen is poorly preserved. A similar seal, from an identical but smaller boulloterion, is published in Zacos, Seals II, no. 286. Alekseyenko publishes both as parallels to this specimen. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Σεργίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαροκανδιδάτῳ καὶ κουμερκηαρίῳ Χερσόνος.
Lord, help your servant Sergios imperial spatharokandidatos and kommerkiarios of Cherson.
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)
- Documents de sigillographie byzantine: La collection C. Orghidan (Open in Zotero)
- Monety i pečati vizantijskogo Hersona (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
- De Administrando Imperio (Open in Zotero)
- Nicephori archiepiscopi Constantinopolitani Opuscula historica (Open in Zotero)
- Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis historiarum (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- L’administration byzantine de Cherson: catalogue des sceaux (Open in Zotero)
- Archaeology and the History of Cherson (Open in Zotero)
- Pečati Hersonskoj Femy (Open in Zotero)
- Svincovye pečati vizantijskogo Hersona (Open in Zotero)
- Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Sceaux byzantins inédits (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)