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Demetrios, imperial spatharokandidatos and chartoularios of the dromos of the West (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps with fleurons rising from the base. Circular inscription beginning at 4 o'clock and running counter-clockwise between two borders of dots.

ΚΕΟΘ

Κ(ύρι)ε βο(ή)θ[ει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription in six lines. No visible border.

ΗΜΗ
ΤΡΙ,ΣΠ
ΘΡΟΚΝ
SΧΡΤΛ,Τ
ΡΟΜΤ
ΥΣ

[Δ]ημητρίῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθαροκανδ(ιδάτῳ) (καὶ) χαρτουλ(αρίῳ) τοῦ δρόμου τ(ῆς) Δύσ(εως)

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps with fleurons rising from the base. Circular inscription beginning at 4 o'clock and running counter-clockwise between two borders of dots.

ΚΕΟΘ

Κ(ύρι)ε βο(ή)θ[ει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription in six lines. No visible border.

ΗΜΗ
ΤΡΙ,ΣΠ
ΘΡΟΚΝ
SΧΡΤΛ,Τ
ΡΟΜΤ
ΥΣ

[Δ]ημητρίῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθαροκανδ(ιδάτῳ) (καὶ) χαρτουλ(αρίῳ) τοῦ δρόμου τ(ῆς) Δύσ(εως)

Accession number BZS.1958.106.1280
Diameter 21.0 mm
Previous Editions

Laurent, Corpus II, no. 456; DO Seals 1, no. 1.5.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Δημητρίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαροκανδιδάτῳ καὶ χαρτουλαρίῳ τοῦ δρόμου τῆς Δύσεως

Lord help thy servant Demetrios, imperial spatharokandidatos and chartoularios of the dromos of the West.

Commentary

The chartoularios of the (oxys) dromos operating in the provinces were undoubtedly fiscal officals, using the peasants enrolled in this service (στρατεῖαι τοῦ δρόμου) as well as general corvées in order to maintain roads and operate the state's postal service (Listes, 312). In the Balkans we find evidence for only one chartoularios tou dromou tes Dyseos from the ninth to eleventh century (in addition to our seals, cf. Laurent, Corpus II, nos. 454-60 and Zacos, Seals II, no. 825); he could be the hierarchical superior of the ek prosopou tou dromou, such as those of Thrace. Moreover, the official may be related to the "chartoularata" that appear in the Partitio Romaniae (1204) in Bageniteia, Glavinitza, Dobrohouvista, and Sthlanitza.

Bibliography

  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)