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Maria spatharissa (ninth century)

 
 

Obverse

Double cross on three steps. Circular inscription within two borders of dots.

ΚΕοηθητησηδουλ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη τῇ σῇ δούλ(ῃ)

Reverse

Inscription in three lines with decorations above and below. Border of dots.


μαρηα
σσπαθα
ρεασ


Μαρήας σπαθαρέας

Obverse

Double cross on three steps. Circular inscription within two borders of dots.

ΚΕοηθητησηδουλ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη τῇ σῇ δούλ(ῃ)

Reverse

Inscription in three lines with decorations above and below. Border of dots.


μαρηα
σσπαθα
ρεασ


Μαρήας σπαθαρέας

Accession number BZS.1947.2.882
Diameter 27.0 mm; field: 24.0 mm

Translation

Κύριε βοήθη τῇ σῇ δούλῃ. Μαρήας σπαθαρέας.

Lord help your servant. (Seal of) Maria spatharissa.

Commentary

Note that on her seal, Maria does not call herself a "spatharissa," but a "spatharea." In his unpublished catalogue of the Shaw collection, Laurent identifies this Maria as the same individual as seal BZS.1947.2.908, when she was a protospatharissa.