N. kandidatos (?) and episkeptites of Thrace and Macedonia (?) (tenth century)
Obverse
A patriarchal cross mounted on a base of three steps. Along the circumference, remnants of a circular inscription at right. Indeterminate border.
̣..λ̣
[Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) τῷ σῷ] δ[ού]λῳ
Reverse
Inscription of at least six lines. Border of dots.
...̣
.κνη̣
Τ̣επισκ̣
Πττησθ̣Ρ̣
Κησκεμ
...νι.
... κανδη[δά]τῳ (καὶ) ἐπισκ[ε]πτ(ίτῃ) τῆς Θρ[ᾴ]κης κε Μ[ακεδο]νί[ας]
Obverse
A patriarchal cross mounted on a base of three steps. Along the circumference, remnants of a circular inscription at right. Indeterminate border.
̣..λ̣
[Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) τῷ σῷ] δ[ού]λῳ
Reverse
Inscription of at least six lines. Border of dots.
...̣
.κνη̣
Τ̣επισκ̣
Πττησθ̣Ρ̣
Κησκεμ
...νι.
... κανδη[δά]τῳ (καὶ) ἐπισκ[ε]πτ(ίτῃ) τῆς Θρ[ᾴ]κης κε Μ[ακεδο]νί[ας]
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.2772 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 22.0 mm |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ ... κανδηδάτῳ καὶ ἐπισκεπτίτῃ τῆς Θρᾴκης κε Μακεδονίας.
Lord, help your servant ... kandidatos and episkeptites of Thrace and Macedonia.
Commentary
There are three problems in this inscription. The owner's Christian name is not preserved, nor is it clear if held the title simply of kandidatos or the higher rank of spatharokandidatos or imperial kandidatos. It is not certain whether the office of episkeptites is given in an abbreviated form (as we read it) or in full; if the former, then it is possible to reconstitute the names of the themes of Thrace and Macedonia, although this reading is very tentative.