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Stephanos epoptes of Paphlagonia (tenth/eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of an angel, probably St. Michael. No sigla, inscription, or border visible.

Reverse

Inscription (of four lines). No visible border.

.k̅εR̅,θ,
τεφαν,ε
πτιτη,.
λαγ,ν

Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) [Σ]τεφάν(ῳ) ἐ[πό]πτι τῆ(ς) [Παφ]λαγ(ο)ν(ίας?)

Obverse

Bust of an angel, probably St. Michael. No sigla, inscription, or border visible.

Reverse

Inscription (of four lines). No visible border.

.k̅εR̅,θ,
τεφαν,ε
πτιτη,.
λαγ,ν

Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) [Σ]τεφάν(ῳ) ἐ[πό]πτι τῆ(ς) [Παφ]λαγ(ο)ν(ίας?)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.2330
Diameter 14.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 11.6.

 

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

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει Στεφάνῳ ἐπόπτι τῆς Παφλαγονίας.

Lord, help Stephanos, epoptes of Paphlagonia.

Commentary

The reading of this seal is offered with some hesitation. We prefer epoptes to episkeptites because of the space available.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantinische Bleisiegel in Berlin II (Open in Zotero)
  • De Thematibus (Open in Zotero)
  • Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (Open in Zotero)
  • Paphlagonien und Honorias (Open in Zotero)
  • Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)