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Theophylaktos imperial protospatharios and protonotarios of the Aigaioi (ninth/tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps with fleurons (up to second arm). Along the border of dots, inscription.

ΚΕ....ΤΣΥΛˊ

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλ

Reverse

Inscription. Linear border.

ΘΕΟ.
ΥΛΑΚΤΟ.
ΑΣΠΑS...
ΤΑΡΙΤ..
ΕΓΕΟΝ

Θεοφυλάκτο βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ πρωτονοταρίῳ τῶν Ἐγέον

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps with fleurons (up to second arm). Along the border of dots, inscription.

ΚΕ....ΤΣΥΛˊ

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλ

Reverse

Inscription. Linear border.

ΘΕΟ.
ΥΛΑΚΤΟ.
ΑΣΠΑS...
ΤΑΡΙΤ..
ΕΓΕΟΝ

Θεοφυλάκτο βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ πρωτονοταρίῳ τῶν Ἐγέον

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.2501
Diameter 22.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 2, no. 40.26.

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

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοφυλάκτο βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ πρωτονοταρίῳ τῶν Ἐγέον.

Lord, help your servant Theophylaktos imperial protospatharios and protonotarios of the Aigaioi.

Commentary

The form τῶν Αἰγαίων is, as far as we know, a hapax, created by analogy with other names of themes, such as Ἀνατολικῶν, Ἀρμενιακῶν, etc. Cf. also Νικοπόλων, DO Seals 2, § 2. See also Zacos, Seals II, no. 122: according to the photograph, one should read στρατηγῷ Τ,ΕΓΕΟ|ΠΕΛΑΓ, i.e., τῶν Αἰγαιοπελαγιτῶν, that is, the men of the theme.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 2: South of the Balkans, the Islands, South of Asia Minor (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
  • Methodii Patriarchae Constantinopolitani Vita S. Theophanis Confessoris: e codice mosquensi no. 159 (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
  • Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)