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Michael (imperial) protospatharios and katepano of Paphlagonia (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

St. Michael standing frontally, holding a scepter in his right hand. Remains, on the left, of a circular inscription along the circumference. Border of dots.

κεRοηθ,

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) [τῷ σῷ δόυλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ηχ
΄σπ
Sκτ
πεφ
γον,

[Μ]ηχα[ὴλ β(ασιλικῷ)] (πρωτο)σπα[θαρ(ίῳ)] (καὶ) κατ[επάν]ω Πεφ[λα]γον(ίας)

Obverse

St. Michael standing frontally, holding a scepter in his right hand. Remains, on the left, of a circular inscription along the circumference. Border of dots.

κεRοηθ,

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) [τῷ σῷ δόυλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ηχ
΄σπ
Sκτ
πεφ
γον,

[Μ]ηχα[ὴλ β(ασιλικῷ)] (πρωτο)σπα[θαρ(ίῳ)] (καὶ) κατ[επάν]ω Πεφ[λα]γον(ίας)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1104
Diameter 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 11.16.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δόυλῳ Μηχαὴλ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ κατεπάνω Πεφλαγονίας.

Lord, help your servant Michael, protospatharios and katepano of Paphlagonia.

Commentary

The katepano of Paphlagonia was a naval commander, probably based at Amastris, attested from the ninth to the twelfth century. See the note in Zacos, Seals II, no. 1060. At some stage he seems to have taken command of the ships of the Boukellarion, cf. Zacos, Seals II, no. 348.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantinische Bleisiegel in Berlin II (Open in Zotero)
  • Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
  • De Thematibus (Open in Zotero)
  • Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (Open in Zotero)
  • Paphlagonien und Honorias (Open in Zotero)
  • Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)