Theodore Doukas (proto?)sebastos and protostrator (twelfth century, first half)
Obverse
St Theodore standing, holding a spear and shield. Sigla on either side: |θε|ο|ρο|οσ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θεόδωρο{ο}ς. Border of dots.
Obverse
St Theodore standing, holding a spear and shield. Sigla on either side: |θε|ο|ρο|οσ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θεόδωρο{ο}ς. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, a cross above. Border of dots.
σφραγισ
σσεαου
θεορρου̣
.Αρατορος
τουουκα̣
σφραγὶς {σ}σεβαστοῦ Θεωδό{ρῳ}ρου [(καὶ)] (πρωτο)στράτορος τοῦ Δούκα
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.575 |
---|---|
Diameter | 28.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2815. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
σφραγὶς σεβαστοῦ Θεωδόρου καὶ πρωτοστράτορος τοῦ Δούκα.
Seal of Theodore Doukas, sebastos and protostrator.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This inscription is remarkable for the number of superfluous letters which show the engraver's attempt to rectify his mistakes. It would appear that the first sigma in the second line of the reverse is a mistake for alpha (here the abbreviation for proto-) which should have preceded the title of sebastos.
Wassiliou-Seibt includes this inscription in her corpus on the reasoning that it originally ran σφραγὶς σεβαστοῦ Θεοδώρου τοῦ Δούκα but was then rendered prosaic by the insertion of the owner's office.