Maria protospatharissa (ninth century)
Obverse
Bust of St. George, holding a spear in his right hand and a shield in his left. Inscription visible in a column to the left: |Γ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γ[εώργ(ιος)]. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Inscription in four lines. Border of dots.
ΚΕο
αρηα
αˋσπαθα
.εα
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Μαρήα (πρωτο)σπαθα[ρ]έα
Obverse
Bust of St. George, holding a spear in his right hand and a shield in his left. Inscription visible in a column to the left: |Γ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γ[εώργ(ιος)]. Indeterminate border.
Reverse
Inscription in four lines. Border of dots.
ΚΕο
αρηα
αˋσπαθα
.εα
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Μαρήα (πρωτο)σπαθα[ρ]έα
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.908 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19.0 mm |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Μαρήα πρωτοσπαθαρέα.
Lord, help Maria protospatharissa.
Commentary
Note that on her seal, Maria does not call herself a "protospatharissa," but a "protospatharea." In his unpublished catalogue of the Shaw collection, Laurent identifies this Maria as the same individual in specimens BZS.1947.2.881 and BZS.1947.2.882, when she was a spatharissa.