Theodore Kastamonites, sebastos (twelfth century, second half)
Obverse
The two Saints Theodore (the Recruit and the Stratelates) standing with their hands upraised towards the manus Dei above. Between them are their spears and a shield embossed with a patriarchal cross. Epigraphy on the left side: |θε|οδ||ρο|σο|τη|ρο|ν : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θεόδωρος ὁ Τήρον. On the right: |θε|οδ|ροσ|ορ|α|λ|σ : ὁ ἅγιος Θεόδωρος ὁ Στρατηλ(ά)της. Border of dots.
Reverse
A circular inscription, beginning with a cross, starting at twelve o'clock. In the middle, a monogram in which the letters κ Μ ντ (the last two rendered in ligature) are found at the ends of the horizontal and vertical bars: Κ(α)στ(α)μ(ο)ν(ί)τ(η)ν.
σεστονομνυμονμρτυρνυσσκε
σεβαστὸν ὁμώνυμον, μαρτύρων δύας, σκέ(ποις)
Obverse
The two Saints Theodore (the Recruit and the Stratelates) standing with their hands upraised towards the manus Dei above. Between them are their spears and a shield embossed with a patriarchal cross. Epigraphy on the left side: |θε|οδ||ρο|σο|τη|ρο|ν : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θεόδωρος ὁ Τήρον. On the right: |θε|οδ|ροσ|ορ|α|λ|σ : ὁ ἅγιος Θεόδωρος ὁ Στρατηλ(ά)της. Border of dots.
Reverse
A circular inscription, beginning with a cross, starting at twelve o'clock. In the middle, a monogram in which the letters κ Μ ντ (the last two rendered in ligature) are found at the ends of the horizontal and vertical bars: Κ(α)στ(α)μ(ο)ν(ί)τ(η)ν.
σεστονομνυμονμρτυρνυσσκε
σεβαστὸν ὁμώνυμον, μαρτύρων δύας, σκέ(ποις)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.745 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 29.0 mm; field: 25.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 1911. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
σεβαστὸν ὁμώνυμον, μαρτύρων δύας, σκέποις.
May you two martyrs protect the sebastos of the same name.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This remarkable seal may well have belonged to Theodore Kastamonites, the maternal uncle of the emperor Isaac II Angelos (1185–1195, 1203–1204), who tended to the internal affairs of the empire during his nephew's first reign. On this and other possible identifications, see Wassiliou-Seibt's commentary.
The inscription on the reverse, if taken with the monogram, would form one twelve-syllable verse with a seven-syllable hemistich added on; if the monogram is read separately, then the inscription would consist of two seven-syllable hemistichs. Though either reading is possible, we incline to the view that the monogram forms a kind of signature and was not meant to be part of the metrical inscription.