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Peter imperial spatharios and doux of Calabria (ninth century)

 
 

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). In the angles: σ|λ. No visible border.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει [τ]ῷ σῷ [δ]ούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in four lines. No visible border.

πετρ
β/σπα/
κδουκ
.αλα

Πέτρῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ) κ(αὶ) δουκὶ [Κ]αλα(βρίας)

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). In the angles: σ|λ. No visible border.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει [τ]ῷ σῷ [δ]ούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in four lines. No visible border.

πετρ
β/σπα/
κδουκ
.αλα

Πέτρῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ) κ(αὶ) δουκὶ [Κ]αλα(βρίας)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1058
Diameter 29.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 4.5.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Πέτρῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ δουκὶ Καλαβρίας.

Mother of God, help your servant Peter imperial spatharios and doux of Calabria.

Commentary

The owner of this seal lived at least a century before the Peter of similar titles/offices in BZS.1958.106.3191.

Similar seals have been published by several authors, most recently by Zacos-Veglery, no. 2310; cf. Sig., 220, and Birch, 15. All these are from different boulloteria.

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)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
  • Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Catalogue of Seals in the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum (Open in Zotero)