Eustathios imperial spatharios and domestikos of the Optimatoi (ninth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). In the quarters: ΤΣ|ΔΛ. Border of dots.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines followed by a row of pellets. Border of dots.
ΕΥΣΤΑΘ.
ΣΠΑΘΔΟ
ΜΕΣΤΙΚΤΝΟ
ΠΤΗΜΑΤ
Εὐσταθ[ί]ῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) δομεστίκ(ῳ) τ(ῶ)ν Ὀπτημάτ(ων)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). In the quarters: ΤΣ|ΔΛ. Border of dots.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines followed by a row of pellets. Border of dots.
ΕΥΣΤΑΘ.
ΣΠΑΘΔΟ
ΜΕΣΤΙΚΤΝΟ
ΠΤΗΜΑΤ
Εὐσταθ[ί]ῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) δομεστίκ(ῳ) τ(ῶ)ν Ὀπτημάτ(ων)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.1891 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 71.7. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Εὐσταθίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ δομεστίκῳ τῶν Ὀπτημάτων.
Mother of God, help your servant Eustathios, imperial spatharios and domestikos of the Optimatoi.
Bibliography
- Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. 1
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung
- Byzantine Praetorians: An Administrative, Institutional, and Social Survey of the Opsikion and Tagmata, c. 580-900
- Die byzantinische Armee im 10. und 11. Jahrhundert: Studien zur Organisation der Tagmata
- Documents de sigillographie byzantine: La collection C. Orghidan
Commentary
One is left with the impression that the obverse was engraved at a considerably earlier date than the reverse.