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John Xyleas anthypatos and strategos of Charsianon (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin orans with a medallion of Christ on her breast. Sigla: ̅-θ̅υ : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, a cross between two horizontal bars above. Border of dots.

– + –
θκ̅εRθ,
Ι̅ανθυ
πατ,Sστρα
τηγ,χαρσυ
αν,τξυ
λεα

Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) Ἰω(άννῃ) ἀνθυπάτ(ῳ) (καὶ) στρατηγ(ῷ) Χαρσυαν(οῦ) τῷ Ξυλέᾳ

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin orans with a medallion of Christ on her breast. Sigla: ̅-θ̅υ : Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, a cross between two horizontal bars above. Border of dots.

– + –
θκ̅εRθ,
Ι̅ανθυ
πατ,Sστρα
τηγ,χαρσυ
αν,τξυ
λεα

Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) Ἰω(άννῃ) ἀνθυπάτ(ῳ) (καὶ) στρατηγ(ῷ) Χαρσυαν(οῦ) τῷ Ξυλέᾳ

Accession number BZS.1955.1.3414
Diameter 22.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 40.17.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει Ἰωάννῃ ἀνθυπάτῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Χαρσυανοῦ τῷ Ξυλέᾳ.

Mother of God, help John Xyleas, anthypatos and strategos of Charsianon.

Commentary

Charsianon, named so after a famous fortress, a tourma of the Armeniakon, elevated to the rank of kleisoura in the first half of the IXth c., became a theme between 863 and 873; it was assembled from sections of the neighboring themes of Boukellarion, Armeniakon and Cappadocia, and embraced the area north of Caesarea. A (grand?) doux of Charsianon, an Armenian, is attested in the late XIth c.: SBS 3 (1993) 205; cf. Seibt in Τὸ Ἐλληνικόν: Studies in Honor of Prof. Sp. Vryonis 2, 159-168. See Oikonomides, Listes, 348; Hild-Restle, Kappadokien, 163-65; D. Potache, “Le thème et la forteresse de Charsianon: recherches dans la région d’Akdagmadeni,” Geographica byzantina (Paris, 1981), 107-117; I. Beldiceanu-Steinherr, “Charsianon-Kastron/Qal’e-i Harsanos,” Byzantion 54 (1981) 410-29; Mikra Asia them., 299-305, 469-474 (St. Lampakes).

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)
  • Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (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)
  • Charsianon-Kastron/Qal’ei Harsanos (Open in Zotero)
  • Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)