Leo patrikios, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Charsianon (tenth century)
Obverse
Bust of a saint. Vertical inscription visible at left: ο|α|γ|..| : Ὁ (ἅγ[ιος ...]. Circular inscription within a border of dots:
κεRοηθει
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει [τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
ντ,
ικι,R,
θ,Sστ
γ,χα
αν
[Λέο]ντ(ι) [πατρ]ικί(ῳ), β(ασιλικῷ) [(πρωτο)σπα]θ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) στ[ρατη]γ(ῷ) Χα[ρσι]ανοῦ
Obverse
Bust of a saint. Vertical inscription visible at left: ο|α|γ|..| : Ὁ (ἅγ[ιος ...]. Circular inscription within a border of dots:
κεRοηθει
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει [τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
ντ,
ικι,R,
θ,Sστ
γ,χα
αν
[Λέο]ντ(ι) [πατρ]ικί(ῳ), β(ασιλικῷ) [(πρωτο)σπα]θ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) στ[ρατη]γ(ῷ) Χα[ρσι]ανοῦ
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.2796 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 27.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 40.19. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Λέοντι πατρικίῳ, βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Χαρσιανοῦ.
Lord, help your servant Leo patrikios, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Charsianon.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
- Studies in Byzantine Sigillography (Open in Zotero)
- War Gagik II. von Grossarmenien ca. 1072-1073 Μέγας Δοὺξ Χαρσιανοῦ? (Open in Zotero)
- Charsianon-Kastron/Qal’ei Harsanos (Open in Zotero)
- Kappadokien (Kappadokia, Charsianon, Sebasteia und Lykandos) (Open in Zotero)
- Le thème et la forteresse de Charsianon: Recherches dans la région d’Akdagmadeni (Open in Zotero)
- Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
It is evident from the number of letters missing at the bottom (on the reverse) that no more than three or four letters are missing at the top, permitting restoration of the owner's name with some confidence.