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Symeon protospatharios and chartoularios of the Bulgarians (tenth/eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of four lines; ornament at top and bottom. Border of dots.


ΣΥΜ.
ΝΠΡ.
ΤΟΣ
ΘΑΡ

 ·

Συμεὼν πρωτοσπαθάριος

Reverse

Inscription of four lines; ornament at top (and bottom?). Border of dots.


..Α
....ΟΝ
ΟΥΛ
ΓΑΡ,

καὶ χὰρτουλάριος τον Βουλγάρων

Obverse

Inscription of four lines; ornament at top and bottom. Border of dots.


ΣΥΜ.
ΝΠΡ.
ΤΟΣ
ΘΑΡ

 ·

Συμεὼν πρωτοσπαθάριος

Reverse

Inscription of four lines; ornament at top (and bottom?). Border of dots.


..Α
....ΟΝ
ΟΥΛ
ΓΑΡ,

καὶ χὰρτουλάριος τον Βουλγάρων

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.2710
Diameter 27.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 20.1.

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

Translation

Συμεὼν πρωτοσπαθάριος καὶ χὰρτουλάριος τον Βουλγάρων.

Symeon protospatharios and chartoularios of the Bulgarians.

Commentary

This seal relates to Bulgarian troops established before 959 in the Chalkidiki. The presence of these soldiers in the area is reflected in a pittakion (996) of Emperor Basil II which mentions a certain Basil, "tourmarches of the Bulgarians." Cf. Iviron I, 167. Moreover, we find a tenth-century seal of a koumerkiarios ton Boulgaron (Zacos, Seals II, no. 910, erroneously dated to the late 9th century). These, together with this specimen, allow one to conclude that the unit of the Bulgarians was important and had reached a developed stage of organization from the military, administrative, and economic points of view. See N. Oikonomides, "Le commerciaire des Bulgares" in Bulgaria Pontica Medii Aevi IV.

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)
  • Actes d’Iviron (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)