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Stephen imperial cleric, kouboukleisios, and grand kourator of the oikos of the emperor Romanos (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

An elaborate cross on an ionic column capital on two steps, with two pellets beyond the left and right arms of the cross and a single pellet above the top arm, and fleurons rising from the steps. Circular inscription inside linear border.

ηθειτωσωδουλω

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in six lines with pellets above and below. Linear border.

· · ·
στεφα
ν,ˊκλιρικ,
κουουκλισ,
μεγ,κουρα
τυκ,ρωμ.
ν,δεσπ,
· · ·

Στεφάν βασιλικῷ κλιρικ, κουβουκλισίῳ καὶ μεγάλῳ κουράτωρι τοῦ ὔκου Ῥωμανοῦ δεσπότου

Obverse

An elaborate cross on an ionic column capital on two steps, with two pellets beyond the left and right arms of the cross and a single pellet above the top arm, and fleurons rising from the steps. Circular inscription inside linear border.

ηθειτωσωδουλω

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in six lines with pellets above and below. Linear border.

· · ·
στεφα
ν,ˊκλιρικ,
κουουκλισ,
μεγ,κουρα
τυκ,ρωμ.
ν,δεσπ,
· · ·

Στεφάν βασιλικῷ κλιρικ, κουβουκλισίῳ καὶ μεγάλῳ κουράτωρι τοῦ ὔκου Ῥωμανοῦ δεσπότου

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4605
Diameter 21.0 mm
Previous Editions

Laurent, "Sceaux Byzantines inédits," BZ 33 (1933) 331-361, no. 13.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Στεφάνῳ βασιλικῷ κλιρικῷ, κουβουκλισίῳ καὶ μεγάλῳ κουράτωρι τοῦ ὔκου Ῥωμανοῦ δεσπότου.

Lord, help your servant Stephen imperial cleric, koubikoularios and grand kourator of the oikos of the emperor Romanos.

Commentary

The "oikos of Romanos" mentioned here on this seal is likely the Myrelaion, and this individual, the kourator of the monastery that Romanos Lekapenos endowed therein; Laurent reads this as a possibility, but tends to view the oikos more as the palace and property of the late Romanos I. 

Bibliography