Eustratios Botaneiates, patrikios, anthypatos, and strategos of Zebel (eleventh century)
Obverse
St. Demetrios standing, holding a spear in his right hand, his left hand resting on a shield set on the ground. Traces of a vertical inscription at right: Τ.|Ι. : [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Δημή]τ[ρ]ι[ος]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
ΣΤΡΑΤ
Π̅Ρ̅ΙΚΙΑΝ
ΥΠΑΤΚΑΙ
.Τ.......
ΖΕΕΛΤΟ
ΟΤ,ΝΙΑΤ,
[Εὐ]στρατ[ίῳ] π(ατ)ρικίῳ, ἀν[θ]υπ[ά]τῳ, καὶ [σ]τ[ρατηγ]ῷ [τοῦ] Ζεβέλου το Βοτ(α)νιάτ(ῃ)
Obverse
St. Demetrios standing, holding a spear in his right hand, his left hand resting on a shield set on the ground. Traces of a vertical inscription at right: Τ.|Ι. : [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Δημή]τ[ρ]ι[ος]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
ΣΤΡΑΤ
Π̅Ρ̅ΙΚΙΑΝ
ΥΠΑΤΚΑΙ
.Τ.......
ΖΕΕΛΤΟ
ΟΤ,ΝΙΑΤ,
[Εὐ]στρατ[ίῳ] π(ατ)ρικίῳ, ἀν[θ]υπ[ά]τῳ, καὶ [σ]τ[ρατηγ]ῷ [τοῦ] Ζεβέλου το Βοτ(α)νιάτ(ῃ)
| Accession number | BZS 1951.31.5.874 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 13.1. Similar seals published in Sig., 318, no. 2 (without illustration). See also SBS 3 (1993): 197, 199. Parallel in Vienna: Wassiliou-Seibt, Die byzantinischen Bleisiegel in Österreich II, no. 307. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Εὐστρατίῳ πατρικίῳ, ἀνθυπάτῳ, καὶ στρατηγῷ τοῦ Ζεβέλου το Βοτανιάτῃ.
Eustratios Botaneiates, patrikios, anthypatos, and strategos of Zebel.
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)
- Alexiade: Règne de l’empereur Alexis I Comnène, 1081–1118 (Open in Zotero)
- Histoire de Yahya-ibn-Said d’Antioche, continuateur de Said-ibn-Bitriq (Open in Zotero)
- Sceaux de la collection Zacos (Bibliothèque nationale de France), se rapportant aux provinces orientales de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Region und griechisch-orthodoxes Patriarchat von Antiocheia in mittelbyzantinischer Zeit und im Zeitalter der Kreuzzüge (969–1204) (Open in Zotero)
- Die byzantinischen Bleisiegel in Österreich, Vol. 2, Zentral- und Provinzialverwaltung (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The identification of Zebel with Gabala is based on Anna Komnena’s statement that the strategaton of Gabala was also called Zebel in imitation of the local pronunciation (Alexiade, 135). Gabala/Zebel was made the seat of a strategos by John Tzimiskes in 975 (Yahya, 369) and placed under the authority of the doux of Antioch. The use of Arabs as local officials is shown on the seal of Abdellas, kouropalates and judge of Zebel, published by Cheynet, Collection Zacos, no. 51. The town remained in Byzantine hands until 1080: see Todt, “Region,” 417–18.
The obverse of this seal is poorly preserved, but the identity of the saint is confirmed by the other seals of Eustratios Botaneiates. See PBW : Eustratios 20120.