Theophobos exousiastes of the Persians (830s)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (indeterminate type); in the quarters: τσ|δλ : τῷ σῷ δούλῳ. No visible border.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. No visible border.
θεοφ
οβεξου
σιαστητ
ερσν
Θεοφόβῳ ἐξουσιαστῇ τ(ῶν) [Π]ερσῶν
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (indeterminate type); in the quarters: τσ|δλ : τῷ σῷ δούλῳ. No visible border.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. No visible border.
θεοφ
οβεξου
σιαστητ
ερσν
Θεοφόβῳ ἐξουσιαστῇ τ(ῶν) [Π]ερσῶν
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.3767 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 108.1; Zacos–Veglery, no. 2526 (exousiastes of Cherson). Cf. Seibt, in BSl 36 (1975): 212, who properly identified the owner as exousiastes τῶν Περσῶν, and Winkelmann, Ämterstruktur, 113. |
Translation
Κύριε or Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοφόβῳ ἐξουσιαστῇ τῶν Περσῶν.
Lord or Mother of God, help your servant Theophobos exousiastes of the Persians.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings
- Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. 1
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung
- Titres et fonctions de l’Empire byzantin
- Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
- Théophile, Théophobe et les Perses
Commentary
Theophobos, the brother-in-law of Theophilos, was of Persian extraction. Cheynet asserts that "in the case of Theophobos, the title does not correspond to any precise local titulature, but simply reflects his authority" over a special army tagma (J.-C. Cheynet, "Τhéophile, Théophobe et les Perses," 48). Cf. Guilland, Titres, 599, and ODB 3:2067–68. This tagma was at base his personal military entourage.