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George imperial spatharokandidatos and anagrapheus of the West (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on four steps. Partial remains of a circular inscription between two borders of dots.

κεοηθ,τσ

Κ(ύριε) βοήθ(ει) τῷ σῷ [δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription of five lines preceded by a cross. Border of dots.

.γεορ
σπαθ
....ΑΝΔS
αν.γραφ
τισδυσ

Γεορ[γί]ῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ[αροκ]ανδ(ιδάτῳ) (καὶ) ἀν[α]γραφ(εῖ) τῖς Δύσ(εως)

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on four steps. Partial remains of a circular inscription between two borders of dots.

κεοηθ,τσ

Κ(ύριε) βοήθ(ει) τῷ σῷ [δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription of five lines preceded by a cross. Border of dots.

.γεορ
σπαθ
....ΑΝΔS
αν.γραφ
τισδυσ

Γεορ[γί]ῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ[αροκ]ανδ(ιδάτῳ) (καὶ) ἀν[α]γραφ(εῖ) τῖς Δύσ(εως)

Accession number BZS.1958.106.3080
Diameter 24.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 1.1.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Γεοργίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθ[αροκ]ανδιδάτῳ καὶ ἀναγραφεῖ τῖς Δύσεως.

Lord, help your servant George imperial spatharokandidatos and anagrapheus of the West.

Commentary

The anagrapheus was a surveyor of land for fiscal purposes. He usually held (often farmed out) a temporary commission and operated within one theme. We know of at least two cases in which several themes are involved: in 1059 and 1074 we find in eastern Macedonia Leo anagrapheus "of the West" that is, "of the four themes" (unspecified): Iviron II, no. 32, see line 30; and in 1102, we find an anagrapheus of the themes of Thrace, Macedonia, Boleron, Strymon, and Thessalonica (this could be four themes if we count Boleron and Strymon as one), but who is not called "of the West" (IRAIK 5 [1900] 41-42). It is hard to imagine anyone being in charge of surveying such a vast territory. Moreover, the present seal and BZS.1955.1.1604 are certainly much earlier than the above texts. Thus, perhaps the surveys mentioned on these seals are related to the peninsula that Byzantium recovered after the death of Symeon of Bulgaria (927) and the peace treaty with his successor; since these recovered lands belonged to more than one theme, they may have been designated collectively as Δύσις. Cf. BZS.1958.106.1280, BZS.1958.106.1614, BZS.1958.106.1813.

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)