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Theodotos spatharios and doux of Calabria (eighth century)

 
 

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (of indeterminate type); visible in the lower quarters: ΔΛ. Wreath border.

Θεοτόκε or Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in five lines. Indeterminate border.

...
δοτου
σΠ ́Sδ
κ/κλ
....

[Θεο]δότου σπαθ(αρίου) (καὶ) δουκ(ὸς) Καλα[βρίας]

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (of indeterminate type); visible in the lower quarters: ΔΛ. Wreath border.

Θεοτόκε or Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in five lines. Indeterminate border.

...
δοτου
σΠ ́Sδ
κ/κλ
....

[Θεο]δότου σπαθ(αρίου) (καὶ) δουκ(ὸς) Καλα[βρίας]

Accession number BZS.1958.106.3416
Diameter 27.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 4.7.
Zacos-Veglery, no. 2488.

Translation

Θεοτόκε or Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοδότου σπαθαρίου καὶ δουκὸς Καλαβρίας.

Theotokos or Lord, help your servant Theodotos spatharios and doux of Calabria.

Commentary

We note that the letter Θ in line 3 of the reverse is above the letter Π. Two other specimens, one in the British Museum (Birch, 15), and the other published by Salinas and referred to in Sig., 220, belonged to a Theodotos imperial protospatharios and doux of Calabria; they are similar to the DO specimen and may refer to the same person at a later stage of his career.

Bibliography

  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
  • Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Catalogue of Seals in the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum (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)
  • Eine byzantinische Beamtenurkunde aus Dubrovnik (Open in Zotero)