Stephen akolouthos (eleventh century, second half)
Obverse
Partially damaged bust of St. Nicholas, holding the book in his left hand and offering a blessing with his right. Epigraphy on either side: .|νι|κολ||οσ : [ὁ ἅ(γιος)] Νικόλαος. Border of dots.
Obverse
Partially damaged bust of St. Nicholas, holding the book in his left hand and offering a blessing with his right. Epigraphy on either side: .|νι|κολ||οσ : [ὁ ἅ(γιος)] Νικόλαος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, a decoration above. Border of dots.
γρ.σ
σργιζ
κολθ
στεν
ο.
γραφ[ὰ]ς σφραγίζω ἀκολούθου Στεφάνο[υ]
Accession number | BZS.1958.106.1259 |
---|---|
Diameter | 22.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Laurent, Bulles métriques, no. 62; cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 333b. |
Translation
γραφὰς σφραγίζω ἀκολούθου Στεφάνου.
I seal the correspondence of the akolouthos Stephen.
Bibliography
- Les bulles métriques dans la sigillographie byzantine (Open in Zotero)
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
By the eleventh century, the akolouthos had become commander of the foreign mercenaries (usually Varangians) making up the imperial guard: Oikonomides, Listes, 331.