Symeon (?) imperial protospatharios and strategos of Cephalonia and Longobardia (tenth century)
Obverse
Bust of St. Theodore, holding a round shield. Remnants of vertical inscription: Ο|Δ|.Σ. [Ὁ ἅγιος Θε]όδ(ωρος). Along the the upper circumference, circular inscription visible. Border of dots.
ΤΣΔ,
[Κύριε βοήθει] τῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ)
Reverse
Inscription in six lines. Indeterminate border.
με.
Ασπ.
.κστρατ.
.κεφαλ.
.ιασSλ.
.ου
[Συ]με[ὼν] β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπ[αθ(αρίῳ)] κ(αὶ) στρατ[ηγ(ῷ)] Κεφαλ[ην]ίας (καὶ) Λ[αγ]ουβ[αρδίας]
Obverse
Bust of St. Theodore, holding a round shield. Remnants of vertical inscription: Ο|Δ|.Σ. [Ὁ ἅγιος Θε]όδ(ωρος). Along the the upper circumference, circular inscription visible. Border of dots.
ΤΣΔ,
[Κύριε βοήθει] τῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ)
Reverse
Inscription in six lines. Indeterminate border.
με.
Ασπ.
.κστρατ.
.κεφαλ.
.ιασSλ.
.ου
[Συ]με[ὼν] β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπ[αθ(αρίῳ)] κ(αὶ) στρατ[ηγ(ῷ)] Κεφαλ[ην]ίας (καὶ) Λ[αγ]ουβ[αρδίας]
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.56 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 24.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 3.3. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Συμεὼν βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Κεφαληνίας καὶ Λαγουβαρδίας.
Lord, help your servant Symeon imperial protospatharios and strategos of Cephalonia and Longobardia.
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)
Commentary
The reconstruction of the seal owner's first name is conjectural. The combination of the command of Longobardia with that of Cephalonia, on the other side of the Ionian sea, is frequent, cf. BZS.1951.31.5.2277 and Falkenhausen, Dominazione, 24-25.