Nikephoros imperial spatharios and dioiketes of Pompeioupolis (tenth century)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on steps, with fleurons arising from the base (up to the first transverse bar). In each of the upper quarters, a six-rayed star. Circular inscription within a border of dots. Border of dots.
+κεRοηθητωσδουλ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, traces of a decoration below.
+νικιφο
ροRσπαθ,S
διυκιτπον
πιπολ,
[ ]
Νικιφόρο β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) διυκιτ(ῇ) Πονπιουπόλ(εως)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on steps, with fleurons arising from the base (up to the first transverse bar). In each of the upper quarters, a six-rayed star. Circular inscription within a border of dots. Border of dots.
+κεRοηθητωσδουλ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, traces of a decoration below.
+νικιφο
ροRσπαθ,S
διυκιτπον
πιπολ,
[ ]
Νικιφόρο β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) διυκιτ(ῇ) Πονπιουπόλ(εως)
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.1566 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 23.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 20.1 |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νικιφόρο βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ διυκιτῇ Πονπιουπόλεως.
Lord, help your servant Nikephoros, imperial spatharios and dioiketes of Pompeioupolis.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
- Paphlagonien und Honorias (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis: Series episcoporum ecclesiarum christianarum orientalium (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Pompeioupolis, today Taş Köprü, was 40 km northeast of Kastamonu. First mentioned as a bishopric in the IVth century, Pompeioupolis became a suffragan of Gangra by the fifth century, before rising to the rank of archbishopric (eighth century) and then to a metropolis without suffragans sometime before 997. See Paphlagonien, 260-262; Laurent, Corpus V/1, 598. List of prelates in Fedalto, HEO I, 88-89.