Theophylaktos ostiarios (?) (tenth/eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St Stephen holding the martyr's cross before him; details indistinct. Inscription preserved at right: Φ|α|νο|σ: [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Στέ]φανος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
ạγιε
στεφα̣ν̣,
οιθι.̣
σθ.
οφυλ̣.
κ̣τ,οσ̣..
η̣̣
ἅγιε Στέφα[νε], βοίθι τ[ῷ] σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Θ[ε]οφυλάκτ(ῳ) ὀσ[τ(ια)ρ]ήῳ
Obverse
Bust of St Stephen holding the martyr's cross before him; details indistinct. Inscription preserved at right: Φ|α|νο|σ: [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Στέ]φανος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
ạγιε
στεφα̣ν̣,
οιθι.̣
σθ.
οφυλ̣.
κ̣τ,οσ̣..
η̣̣
ἅγιε Στέφα[νε], βοίθι τ[ῷ] σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Θ[ε]οφυλάκτ(ῳ) ὀσ[τ(ια)ρ]ήῳ
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.899 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 24.0 mm |
Translation
ἅγιε Στέφανε, βοίθι τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοφυλάκτῳ ὀστιαρήῳ.
St Stephen, help your servant Theophylaktos, ostiarios.
Commentary
The proposed reading of the owner's office as ostiarios is complicated by the lack of room in the second last line of the reverse. There is space for two letters, and so we assume a heavily abbreviated form. Otherwise, the reading might involve a family name, which cannot be reconstructed.