Hermes imperial protospatharios and tourmarches of Thessalonica (ninth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: ΤΣ|ΔΛ. Wreath border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
Ε̣ΡΜΗ
ΒΣΠΘ
Τ̣ΡΜΡ
ΘΕΣΣ
Ἑρμῇ β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) τουρμάρ(χῃ) Θεσσα(λονίκης)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: ΤΣ|ΔΛ. Wreath border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
Ε̣ΡΜΗ
ΒΣΠΘ
Τ̣ΡΜΡ
ΘΕΣΣ
Ἑρμῇ β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) τουρμάρ(χῃ) Θεσσα(λονίκης)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.5333 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 31.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 18.78. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἑρμῇ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ τουρμάρχῃ Θεσσαλονίκης.
Theotokos, help your servant Hermes imperial protospatharios and tourmarches of Thessalonica.
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)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- Silk Trade and Production in Byzantium from the Sixth to the Ninth Century: The Seals of Kommerkiarioi (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantinische Bleisiegel in Berlin (West) (Open in Zotero)
- Le kommerkion d’Abydos, Thessalonique et le commerce bulgare du 9e siècle (Open in Zotero)
- Recherches sur les douanes à Byzance: L’octava, le "kommerkion" et les commerciares (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Les plus anciens recueils des miracles de Saint Démétrius et la pénétration des Slaves dans les Balkans (Open in Zotero)
- L’éparque de Thessalonique: les origines d'une institution administrative (VIIIe-IXe siècles) (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The expression "tourmarches of Thessalonica" would indicate the commander of the army that was recruited and stationed in the city, as opposed to the other tourmarchai of the theme of Thessalonica, such as the tourmarches of the Bulgarians in Chalkidiki (cf. DO Seals 1, § 20). See the commentary on DO Seals 1, no. 71.39.