Theodotos deacon and exarch of Paphlagonia (tenth century)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross (X at the lower crossbar) on indeterminate number of steps; fleurons rising on either side to the lower crossbar. At left and right, a pellet within a circle. Along the circumference, a circular inscription beginning at seven o'clock. Border of dots.
κεRοηθειτσδλˊ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross (X at the lower crossbar) on indeterminate number of steps; fleurons rising on either side to the lower crossbar. At left and right, a pellet within a circle. Along the circumference, a circular inscription beginning at seven o'clock. Border of dots.
κεRοηθειτσδλˊ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
θεο
δοτ΄δι
κονSεΞ
ρχ,πφλ
γον
Θεοδότ(ῳ) διακόν(ῳ) (καὶ) ἐξάρχ(ῳ) Παφλαγον(ίας)
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.233 |
---|---|
Diameter | 17.0 mm; field: 13.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 11.42. See also Laurent, Corpus V/1, no. 242. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοδότῳ διακόνῳ καὶ ἐξάρχῳ Παφλαγονίας.
Lord, help your servant Theodotos, deacon and exarch of Paphlagonia.
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)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantinische Bleisiegel in Berlin II (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)
Commentary
Laurent was likely right to propose that Theodotos was a patriarchal representative with authority over the numerous monasteries of Paphlagonia. The seal of another exarchos of Paphlagonia, a cleric by the name of John, was published by Zacos, Seals II, no. 171.