Nicholas spatharios and ktematinos ton Zenobion (eleventh century)
Obverse
Inscription of five lines with decoration above. The final letter is between two horizontal bars. Border of dots.
κε̅,θ,
τσδ,
ν.κολα,
σπαθα
Ρ
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δού(λῳ) Ν[ι]κολά(ῳ) σπαθαρ(ίῳ)
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.
Sκτη
ματην
τονζη
νοιο,
(καὶ) κτηματήν(ῳ) τον Ζηνόβιο(ν)
Obverse
Inscription of five lines with decoration above. The final letter is between two horizontal bars. Border of dots.
κε̅,θ,
τσδ,
ν.κολα,
σπαθα
Ρ
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δού(λῳ) Ν[ι]κολά(ῳ) σπαθαρ(ίῳ)
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, preceded and followed by decoration. Border of dots.
Sκτη
ματην
τονζη
νοιο,
(καὶ) κτηματήν(ῳ) τον Ζηνόβιο(ν)
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.2082 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 23.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 113.1. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νικολάῳ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ κτηματήνῳ τον Ζηνόβιον.
Lord, help your servant Nicholas spatharios and ktematinos ton Zenobion.
Bibliography
- Épiskeptitai et autres gestionnaires des biens publics (d’après les sceaux de l’IFEB) (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- Three Treatises on Imperial Military Expeditions (Open in Zotero)
- Vizantiiski olovni pechati ot Pliska (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
It is unclear whether the final word refers to a place- or family name.
As Cheynet has observed ("Épiskeptitai," 92–92), there are few references to the office of ktematinos and most date from the first half of the tenth century. In the tenth century, the holder of the office seems to have been equal in rank to the grand kourator and the kourator of the Mangana (Listes, 318, no. 20). The office is not mentioned in the taktika, but we know that the grand kourator, the kourators of the Mangana, and the ktematinos were each required to provide a mule when the emperor was on campaign (Haldon, Three Military Treatises, 100).
From seals we know that the title continued to be used into the eleventh century: the present specimen; Romanos ktematinos ("Épiskeptitai," 93); and Basil Kamateros (Izvestiia Inst. Arch. Acad. Bulg. 20 [1955]: 446, no. 2 [= Jordanov, "Vizantiiski olovni pechati ot Pliska," 284]).