Constantine protospatharios, chartoularios, and archon of the imperial zavareion (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St. Theodore holding a spear in his right hand and a shield in his left hand. Inscription in column at left and right: Ο|ΘΕ|Ο – .|..: ῾ο (ἅγιος) Θεό[δωρ(ος)]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
ΚΕ̣
Κ̅ΝΑΣΠ̣.
Θ,Ρ,ΧΑΡΤ
Λ,Ρ,ΑΡΧ,Τ,
̅⸣ ΖΑΑΡ,
̣.
Κ(ύρι)ε β[(οή)θ(ει)] Κων(σταντίνῳ) (πρωτο)σπ[α]θ(α)ρ(ίῳ) χαρτουλ(α)ρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) ἄρχ(οντι) τ(οῦ) β(ασιλικοῦ) ζαβαρ(εί)ου
Obverse
Bust of St. Theodore holding a spear in his right hand and a shield in his left hand. Inscription in column at left and right: Ο|ΘΕ|Ο – .|..: ῾ο (ἅγιος) Θεό[δωρ(ος)]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
ΚΕ̣
Κ̅ΝΑΣΠ̣.
Θ,Ρ,ΧΑΡΤ
Λ,Ρ,ΑΡΧ,Τ,
̅⸣ ΖΑΑΡ,
̣.
Κ(ύρι)ε β[(οή)θ(ει)] Κων(σταντίνῳ) (πρωτο)σπ[α]θ(α)ρ(ίῳ) χαρτουλ(α)ρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) ἄρχ(οντι) τ(οῦ) β(ασιλικοῦ) ζαβαρ(εί)ου
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.2687 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm |
| Condition | Chipped. |
| Previous Editions | T. Kolias, “Ζάβα—Ζαβαρεῖον—Ζαβαρειώτης,” JÖB 29 (1980): 33. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Κωνσταντίνῳ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ χαρτουλαρίῳ καὶ ἄρχοντι τοῦ βασιλικοῦ ζαβαρείου.
Lord, help Constantine protospatharios, chartoularios, and archon of the imperial arsenal.
Commentary
On the imperial zavareion (arsenal), see Kolias, “Ζάβα—Ζαβαρεῖον—Ζαβαρειώτης,” 31–34. Kolias suggests that the damaged final line provides a family name, provisionally identified as Iasites. A horizontal line is followed by the upper portion of vertical or diagonal element with a serif; there does not seem to be space for a tau, for τ(ῷ), preceding a family name. An omicron-upsilon ligature is here tentatively proposed.