Michael N., spatharios (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God holding the medallion of Christ before her. Traces of sigla on either side: ρ̣θ̣ : [Μ(ήτη)]ρ Θ(εο)[ῦ]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of at least four lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
θκε̣
τονσον̣
μιχαη,σπ
αρ,τον.
Θ(εοτό)κε βοή[θ(ει)] τὸν σὸν δ[οῦλ(ον)] Μιχαὴ(λ) σπ[αθ]άρ(ιον) τὸν ...
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God holding the medallion of Christ before her. Traces of sigla on either side: ρ̣θ̣ : [Μ(ήτη)]ρ Θ(εο)[ῦ]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of at least four lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
θκε̣
τονσον̣
μιχαη,σπ
αρ,τον.
Θ(εοτό)κε βοή[θ(ει)] τὸν σὸν δ[οῦλ(ον)] Μιχαὴ(λ) σπ[αθ]άρ(ιον) τὸν ...
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.3153 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 20.0 mm |
| Condition | Blank too small for die. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τὸν σὸν δοῦλον Μιχαὴλ σπαθάριον τὸν ...
Mother of God, help your servant Michael ..., spatharios.
Commentary
The inscription could be read in two ways: one reading, which we present, takes the owner's title as spatharios and assumes that the inscription ended with his family name, on the grounds that there is an abbreviation mark after the rho in the last preserved line, hence σπαθάρ(ιον) followed by τὸν and the owner's family name (not preserved). On the other hand, if there is no abbreviation mark, the last line could be read as ἀρτοκ[λ(ίνην)], provided that the second last letter is K and not N, the damaged last letter Λ, and that there would have been room for the abbreviation for καὶ between the abbreviated forms of spatharios and artoklines.