Skip to Content

N. Chiotes . . . (proto)notarios of the grand kouratorikion τῶν Ἐλευθερίου (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God with Christ on her left arm. Sigla visible at left: Μή(τη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of perhaps nine lines; the transcription begins with the third line (see commentary). Border of dots.

ΧΙ....
..ΡΛ..Ν.
ΤΑΡ,ΤΚ
ΡΑΤΡΚ.Τ
ΕΛΕΥΘΕ
ΡΟΧΙ
Τ

[. . . (πρωτο)]νοτάρ(ιος) τ(οῦ) μ(ε)γ(άλου) κ(ου)ρατ(ο)ρ(ι)κ(ίου) τ(ῶν) Ἐλευθερ(ίου) ὁ Χιώτ(ης)

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God with Christ on her left arm. Sigla visible at left: Μή(τη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of perhaps nine lines; the transcription begins with the third line (see commentary). Border of dots.

ΧΙ....
..ΡΛ..Ν.
ΤΑΡ,ΤΚ
ΡΑΤΡΚ.Τ
ΕΛΕΥΘΕ
ΡΟΧΙ
Τ

[. . . (πρωτο)]νοτάρ(ιος) τ(οῦ) μ(ε)γ(άλου) κ(ου)ρατ(ο)ρ(ι)κ(ίου) τ(ῶν) Ἐλευθερ(ίου) ὁ Χιώτ(ης)

Accession number BZS.1977.34.26
Diameter 28.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 24.6.

Translation

. . . πρωτονοτάριος τοῦ μεγάλου κουρατορικίου τῶν Ἐλευθερίου ὁ Χιώτης.

N. Chiotes . . . (proto)notarios of the grand kouratorikion τῶν Ἐλευθερίου.

Commentary

The reading of the first four lines is difficult. What follows is speculative. It seems that at the beginning of the second line is a T, followed by a letter and then a lunate letter, possibly C; this is likely the ending of the seal owner's first name, in the nominative. The X at the beginning of the third line is possibly a Christogram, which, if so, suggests for the first two lines the following reading: "[Name] πρωτοσπαθάριος ἐπὶ τοῦ Χρυσοτρικλίνου." The third and fourth lines are also too poorly preserved to provide a definitive reading, though with the lambda in the middle of the fourth line we would not be out of bounds in putting forward as a possibility "judge of the Velum," an office also held by other functionaries at Mangana.

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 (Open in Zotero)