John imperial spatharios and archon of Raidestos (tenth century)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on four steps; on either side, fleuron (up to first arm). Along border of dots, inscription.
ΚΕΟΗΘΗΤΣΔΛ,
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
.ΙΝ
.ΣΠΘ.
ΡΧΟΝΡ
ΕΔΕΣΤΟ
Υ
Ἰωάννης βασιλικὸς σπαθάριος καὶ ἄρχον Ῥεδεστοῦ
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on four steps; on either side, fleuron (up to first arm). Along border of dots, inscription.
ΚΕΟΗΘΗΤΣΔΛ,
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
.ΙΝ
.ΣΠΘ.
ΡΧΟΝΡ
ΕΔΕΣΤΟ
Υ
Ἰωάννης βασιλικὸς σπαθάριος καὶ ἄρχον Ῥεδεστοῦ
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.3502 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 24.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 59.1. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ. Ἰωάννης βασιλικὸς σπαθάριος καὶ ἄρχον Ῥεδεστοῦ.
Lord, help your servant. John imperial spatharios and archon of Raidestos.
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)
- History of the Byzantine State (Open in Zotero)
- Notitiae Episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- La Thrace Orientale et La Mer Noire: Géographie Ecclésiastique et Prosopographie (VIIIe-XIIe Siècles) (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Modern Rodostos (Tekirdağ), located on the Sea of Marmara. Similar to its sister city of Panidos, Raidestos had its own archon in the tenth century. Also like Panidos, Raidestos was a center of the wheat trade, as illustrated by the notorious "phoundax of Raidestos," a monopoly over the wheat trade created by Emperor Michael VII. The commercial character of the city explains why it had so many tax collectors (dioiketai).