Constantine protospatharios (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St. Michael holding the orb and sceptre; details indistinct. No inscription visible. Linear border.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Linear border.
̣ρ̣χι
τ̣ρ̣τηγ,
.Ο̣ΗΘ̣Ε̣Ι̣Τ
̣λσ
̅νσπ
θ̣ρ
Ἀρχι[σ]τράτηγ(ε) [β]οήθει τῷ δούλου σου [Κ]ων(σταντίνῳ) (πρωτο)σπαθαρ(ίῳ)
Obverse
Bust of St. Michael holding the orb and sceptre; details indistinct. No inscription visible. Linear border.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Linear border.
̣ρ̣χι
τ̣ρ̣τηγ,
.Ο̣ΗΘ̣Ε̣Ι̣Τ
̣λσ
̅νσπ
θ̣ρ
Ἀρχι[σ]τράτηγ(ε) [β]οήθει τῷ δούλου σου [Κ]ων(σταντίνῳ) (πρωτο)σπαθαρ(ίῳ)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.2649 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 21.0 mm |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Ἀρχιστράτηγε βοήθει τῷ δούλου σου Κωνσταντίνῳ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ.
Commander of the heavenly host, help your servant Constantine, protospatharios.
Commentary
The poor condition of the seal hinders the reading of the inscription; so do the engraver's errors. It would appear that he inverted the word order in the invocation and engraved instead of at the end of the word δούλῳ. Nevertheless, the identification of the owner and his title is secure.