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Artavasdos patrikios and kouropalates (eighth century, first half)

 
 

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: τω|λωσ. Wreath border.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ δούλῳ σοῦ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Wreath border.

Ρ̣τ
υσω
πτρικιω
κουρπ
λτη

Ἀρταυάσδῳ πατρικίῳ καὶ κουραπαλάτῃ

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: τω|λωσ. Wreath border.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ δούλῳ σοῦ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Wreath border.

Ρ̣τ
υσω
πτρικιω
κουρπ
λτη

Ἀρταυάσδῳ πατρικίῳ καὶ κουραπαλάτῃ

Accession number BZS.1955.1.700
Diameter 32.0 mm
Previous Editions

Zacos-Veglery, no. 1742; cf. Oikonomides, Dated Seals, no. 32.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ δούλῳ σοῦ Ἀρταυάσδῳ πατρικίῳ καὶ κουραπαλάτῃ.

Theotokos, help your servant Artavasdos patrikios and kourapalates.

Commentary

This seal will have been struck sometime between 718 and 741 when Artavasdos was a member of the imperial family by virtue of his marriage to the daughter of Leo III. On his seals, see the discussion in Oikonomides, Dated Seals, nos. 32 and 33 (with further references).

Note the form kourapalates (closer to the Latin than the later kouropalates).

Bibliography