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Malakenos anthypatos, patrikios, and strategos of Macedonia (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps with fleurons rising up to the first arm. On first crossing there is an X, while at each horizontal end of arm there is a pellet. Along the border of dots, remnants of an inscription.

Δ

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines followed by a pellet decoration. Border of dots.

ΜΛ.
ΚΝΘΥ.
ΠΤΡΙ..
.ΤΡΤ.
ΜΚΕ.


Μαλακηνῷ ἀνθυπάτῳ, πατρικίῳ καὶ στρατηγ Μακεδονίας

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps with fleurons rising up to the first arm. On first crossing there is an X, while at each horizontal end of arm there is a pellet. Along the border of dots, remnants of an inscription.

Δ

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines followed by a pellet decoration. Border of dots.

ΜΛ.
ΚΝΘΥ.
ΠΤΡΙ..
.ΤΡΤ.
ΜΚΕ.


Μαλακηνῷ ἀνθυπάτῳ, πατρικίῳ καὶ στρατηγ Μακεδονίας

Accession number BZS.1958.106.1434
Diameter 27.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 43.29.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μαλακηνῷ ἀνθυπάτῳ, πατρικίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Μακεδονίας.

Lord, help your servant Malakenos anthypatos, patrikios, and strategos of Macedonia.

Commentary

The owner of this (and perhaps, of BZS.1955.1.2493 (?)) could well be the same person as the strategos of Longobardia of the same name (BZS.1955.1.1533), who died in 952; both strategoi bear the same honorific titles and the obverse of their seals have similar motifs. If this identification, which is by no means certain, is accepted, one should date the present specimen shortly before the appointment of Malakenos to Longobardia in 951.

Bibliography

  • 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)
  • Philippes et la Macédoine orientale à l’époque chrétienne et byzantine; recherches d’histoire et d’archéologie (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
  • La Macédoine orientale à l’époque byzantine: à propos d'un livre récent (Open in Zotero)
  • Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
  • Theophanes Continuatus, Ioannes Cameniata, Symeon Magister, Georgius Monachus (Open in Zotero)