David (?) Primikerios (?), vestes and magistros (eleventh/twelfth century)
Obverse
Bust of St Peter holding a staff cross in his right hand and a rotulus in his left. Inscription on either side: : ὁ (ἅγιος) Πέτρος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
κε,θ,
δδ̅στι
μαγιτρο
τπριμ
.κιρ,
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Δ(αβὶ)δ β(έστι, μαγί<σ>τρο τῷ Πριμ(ι)κρ(ίῳ)
Obverse
Bust of St Peter holding a staff cross in his right hand and a rotulus in his left. Inscription on either side: : ὁ (ἅγιος) Πέτρος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
κε,θ,
δδ̅στι
μαγιτρο
τπριμ
.κιρ,
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Δ(αβὶ)δ β(έστι, μαγί<σ>τρο τῷ Πριμ(ι)κρ(ίῳ)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.2013 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 18.0 mm |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Δαβὶδ βέστι, μαγίστρο τῷ Πριμικρίῳ.
Lord, help David Primikerios, vestes and magistros.
Commentary
Neither on this seal nor on the parallel cited in this entry is the owner's Christian name clearly legible. We take the first two letters of the second line of the reverse as ΔΔ with an abbreviation mark above, hence Δ(αβί)δ; but this is an unusual abbreviation of this name and is by no means certain. Also striking is the apparent use here of primikerios as a family name.