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Michael protoproedros and katepano of the Great Theoupolis Antioch (eleventh century, second half) / John N., raiktor

 
 

Obverse

Original strike: Bust of the Virgin orans. On the right side, the sigla: ..Θ̅Υ [Μ(ήτη)ρ] Θ(εο)]ῦ. Border of dots.

Overstrike: Inscription of three lines. Border of dots.

Ι
ΡΕΚΤ...
ΑΡ..

Overstrike: Ἰω(άννης) ῥἐκτ[ωρ ὁ] Αδρ...

Reverse

Original strike: Inscription of at least five lines, a decoration above. Border of dots.

Overstrike: Bust of St. Michael holding the sceptre in his right hand and the globus cruciger in his left. Sigla: .Χ : [Μ(ι)]χ(αήλ).


ΜΙΧΑΗΛ
Α⸣ ΠΡΟ.Ρ.
ΚΑΤ.....
ΘΕ......
Α.......

Original: Μιχαὴλ (πρω)τ(ο)προ[έ]δρῳ [(καὶ)] κατε[πάν]ω [τ(ῆς) Μ(ε)γ(άλης)] Θεου[πόλεως] Ἀ[ντιοχείας

Obverse

Original strike: Bust of the Virgin orans. On the right side, the sigla: ..Θ̅Υ [Μ(ήτη)ρ] Θ(εο)]ῦ. Border of dots.

Overstrike: Inscription of three lines. Border of dots.

Ι
ΡΕΚΤ...
ΑΡ..

Overstrike: Ἰω(άννης) ῥἐκτ[ωρ ὁ] Αδρ...

Reverse

Original strike: Inscription of at least five lines, a decoration above. Border of dots.

Overstrike: Bust of St. Michael holding the sceptre in his right hand and the globus cruciger in his left. Sigla: .Χ : [Μ(ι)]χ(αήλ).


ΜΙΧΑΗΛ
Α⸣ ΠΡΟ.Ρ.
ΚΑΤ.....
ΘΕ......
Α.......

Original: Μιχαὴλ (πρω)τ(ο)προ[έ]δρῳ [(καὶ)] κατε[πάν]ω [τ(ῆς) Μ(ε)γ(άλης)] Θεου[πόλεως] Ἀ[ντιοχείας

Accession number BZS 1947.2.2078
Diameter 24.0 mm; field: 22.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 9.8; J. W. Nesbitt, "Overstruck Seals in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection," no. 26, with illustration.

Translation

Original: Μιχαὴλ πρωτοπροέδρῳ καὶ κατεπάνω τῆς Μεγάλης Θεουπόλεως Ἀντιοχείας.

Michael protoproedros and katepano of the Great Theoupolis Antioch.

Overstrike: Ἰωάννης ῥἐκτωρ ὁ Αδρ ...

John N., raiktor.

Commentary

It is tempting to connect the original strike with the last attested doux of Antioch by the name of Michael, Michael “Ouranos,” a kinsman of the emperor Michael VI Stratiotikos (1056–57) who was appointed governor of Antioch in 1056 and given the name Ouranos to link him to the famous soldier and governor of Antioch, Nikephoros Ouranos (ca. 1000); see Laurent, “Gouverneurs d’Antioche,” no. 23. It is not impossible that the emperor bestowed the title protoproedros on his kinsman as a further distinction (as Cheynet suggests, Collection Zacos, 23 and n. 36); but this title, created in the late eleventh century, may instead be evidence of another Michael who governed Antioch at a later date, possibly under Constantine X (1059–67), as the authors of Seyrig, 114, surmise.

The raiktor John of the overstrike is not known to us from other sources.

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)
  • La chronologie des gouverneurs d’Antioche sous la seconde domination byzantine (Open in Zotero)
  • Sceaux de la collection Zacos (Bibliothèque nationale de France), se rapportant aux provinces orientales de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Les sceaux byzantins de la Collection Henri Seyrig (Open in Zotero)
  • Overstruck Seals in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection (Open in Zotero)