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Nikephoros sebastophoros and doux of the Great Theoupolis Antioch, the man of the emperor (1062–1063 or 1067)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of six lines preceded by a decoration. Border of dots.

  
ΝΙΚΗΦΟ
ΡΟΣΣΕΑ
ΣΤΟΦΟΡΟΣS
ΟΥΤΗΣΜΕ
ΓΑΛΗΣΘΕ
ΠΟΛΕ,

Νικηφόρος σεβαστοφόρος (καὶ) δοὺξ τῆς Μεγάλης Θεουπόλεω(ς)

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

ΤΙΟΧ,
.ΑΝΘΡΠΟ,
.ΚΡΑΤΑΙ
.ΑΙΑΓΙΟΥΗ
ΜΝΑΣΙ
ΛΕΣ

[Ἀ]ντιοχ(είας) [(καὶ)] ἅνθρωπο(ς) [τ]οῦ κραταιοῦ [κ]αὶ ἁγίου ἡμῶν βασιλέως

Obverse

Inscription of six lines preceded by a decoration. Border of dots.

  
ΝΙΚΗΦΟ
ΡΟΣΣΕΑ
ΣΤΟΦΟΡΟΣS
ΟΥΤΗΣΜΕ
ΓΑΛΗΣΘΕ
ΠΟΛΕ,

Νικηφόρος σεβαστοφόρος (καὶ) δοὺξ τῆς Μεγάλης Θεουπόλεω(ς)

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

ΤΙΟΧ,
.ΑΝΘΡΠΟ,
.ΚΡΑΤΑΙ
.ΑΙΑΓΙΟΥΗ
ΜΝΑΣΙ
ΛΕΣ

[Ἀ]ντιοχ(είας) [(καὶ)] ἅνθρωπο(ς) [τ]οῦ κραταιοῦ [κ]αὶ ἁγίου ἡμῶν βασιλέως

Accession number BZS 1951.31.5.48
Diameter 48.0 mm; field: 44.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 9.7a. Other specimens are published in Sig. 310, no. 4, and by Laurent, "Gouverneurs d'Antioche," no. 25, with a brief mention of this seal.

Translation

Νικηφόρος σεβαστοφόρος καὶ δοὺξ τῆς Μεγάλης Θεουπόλεως Ἀντιοχείας καὶ ἅνθρωπος τοῦ κραταιοῦ καὶ ἁγίου ἡμῶν βασιλέως.

Nikephoros sebastophoros and doux of the Great Theoupolis Antioch, and man of our mighty and holy emperor.

Commentary

This is the notorious eunuch Nikephoritzes, who twice held office as doux of Antioch. He was certainly in this position in 1062–63; he was removed, but returned later, only to be removed for a second time in 1067: cf. Laurent, “Gouverneurs d’Antioche,” nos. 25, 27; Todt, “Region,” 304–5. Two more seals of Nikephoros sebastophoros and doux of Antioch, decorated with Sts. Peter and Paul, have been published by Cheynet, “Sceaux byzantins,” no. 50. These seals do not record the qualification “anthropos of the emperor” inscribed on our specimens to underline the personal relationship between Nikephoritzes and the emperor Constantine X Doukas (1059–67). There is no way to determine which of the two seal types Nikephoritzes used during his first or second mandate.

This seal follows the same model as BZS.1958.106.5430, but they are from different boulloteria.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
  • Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • La chronologie des gouverneurs d’Antioche sous la seconde domination byzantine (Open in Zotero)
  • Region und griechisch-orthodoxes Patriarchat von Antiocheia in mittelbyzantinischer Zeit und im Zeitalter der Kreuzzüge (969–1204) (Open in Zotero)
  • Sceaux byzantins des Musées d’Antioche et de Tarse (Open in Zotero)