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[A?]chi[lleios?] imperial protospatharios and strategos of Mesopotamia (tenth century)

 
 
title

Obverse

Remnants of a fleuron on the left, obviously from a cross on steps with fleurons up to the first arm. Remains of a circular inscription within a border of dots:

.εRοηθει

[Κ(ύρι)]ε βοήθει [τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]

title

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

χι
ασπα
ρατ
σοπ
αμ

[Ἀ]χι[λλ(ἐίῳ) (?) β(ασιλικῷ)] (πρωτο)σπα[θ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) στ]ρατ(ηγῷ) [Με]σοπ[οτ]αμ(ίας)

Obverse

Remnants of a fleuron on the left, obviously from a cross on steps with fleurons up to the first arm. Remains of a circular inscription within a border of dots:

.εRοηθει

[Κ(ύρι)]ε βοήθει [τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

χι
ασπα
ρατ
σοπ
αμ

[Ἀ]χι[λλ(ἐίῳ) (?) β(ασιλικῷ)] (πρωτο)σπα[θ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) στ]ρατ(ηγῷ) [Με]σοπ[οτ]αμ(ίας)

Accession number BZS.1955.1.1732
Diameter 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 55.11.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἀχιλλἐίῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Μεσοποταμίας.

Lord, help your servant Achilleios, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Mesopotamia.

Commentary

The last letter of the first line of the reverse is definitely a iota, not an alpha, thus rulling out the reading Μιχαήλ.

A possible though less probable restitution of the holder's office would be [κου]ράτ[ορι] instead of strategos.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
  • De Thematibus (Open in Zotero)
  • De Administrando Imperio (Open in Zotero)
  • Constantini Porphyrogeniti De cerimoniis aulae byzantinae (Open in Zotero)
  • Überlegungen zur Vorgeschichte des Thema Mesopotamien (Open in Zotero)
  • Silk Trade and Production in Byzantium from the Sixth to the Ninth Century: The Seals of Kommerkiarioi (Open in Zotero)
  • Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)
  • Molivdovuli na Damjan Dobromirduk na Trakija i Mesopotamija (Open in Zotero)