George apo hypaton. (Seal of the) apotheke of Constantinople and (Cherronesos?) (695/96)
Obverse
An emperor (probably Justinian II) standing, wearing a chlamys and crown, holding a globus cruciger in his right hand. At left and right: Θ : Ἰ(νδικτιὼν) θ'. Circular inscription beginning at twelve o'clock. No visible border.
ΓΡ...ΤΝ
Γεωρ[γίου ἀπὸ ὑπά]των
Obverse
An emperor (probably Justinian II) standing, wearing a chlamys and crown, holding a globus cruciger in his right hand. At left and right: Θ : Ἰ(νδικτιὼν) θ'. Circular inscription beginning at twelve o'clock. No visible border.
ΓΡ...ΤΝ
Γεωρ[γίου ἀπὸ ὑπά]των
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. No visible border.
ΠΟΘΗ
ΗΣΚΝΣ
ΤΝΙΝΠ
ΛΟΣϗ.
.ΗΣ
Ἀποθή[κ]ης Κωνσταντινουπ[ό]λεος (καὶ) . . .
Accession number | BZS 1951.31.5.1771 |
---|---|
Diameter | 30.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 23.6; Zacos–Veglery, no. 190 (different reading; attributed to Leontios). |
Translation
Γεωργίου ἀπὸ ὑπάτων. Ἀποθήκης Κωνσταντινουπόλεος καὶ . . .
George apo hypaton. (Seal of the) apotheke of Constantinople and (Cherronesos?)
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
On the reverse, Zacos and Veglery read the letter after S in line 4 as epsilon and suggested the reading Ἑλλησπόντου. But the letter seems to have a slant bar at left and quite likely is a chi, pointing to a more likely reading as Χερονήσου.
Indiction 9 aligns with 695/96, and hence the emperor could be either Justinian II or Leontios. On the basis of iconography the former is more likely. A George apo hypaton, probably the same person, was in charge of the apotheke of Asia, Karia, Lykia, Rhodes, and Cherronesos during 695/96 and 696/97 (cf. BZS 1947.2.70). The present seal suggests that George purchased the right to farm the apotheke of Constantinople and Cherronesos for indiction 9, but then surrendered the right to farm the apotheke of Constantinople, while retaining that of Cherronesos, and adding Asia, Karia, Lykia, and Rhodes.