Skip to Content

Theodore Kotertzes, protonobelissimos (eleventh/twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

Damaged bust of St Theodore holding a spear over his right shoulder. Traces of sigla on either side: Ε|ο|Δ̣̣|ρ|οσ : [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θ]εόδωρος. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

.ε..
.εοδ̣..
.νελη
...τκο
τ̣ε̣ρ̣̣ι̣

[Κ(ύρι)]ε [β(οή)θ(ει) Θ]εοδώ[ρῳ (πρωτο)]νουβελη[σίμ(ῳ)] τῷ Κοτέρτζι

Obverse

Damaged bust of St Theodore holding a spear over his right shoulder. Traces of sigla on either side: Ε|ο|Δ̣̣|ρ|οσ : [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θ]εόδωρος. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

.ε..
.εοδ̣..
.νελη
...τκο
τ̣ε̣ρ̣̣ι̣

[Κ(ύρι)]ε [β(οή)θ(ει) Θ]εοδώ[ρῳ (πρωτο)]νουβελη[σίμ(ῳ)] τῷ Κοτέρτζι

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.3281
Diameter 17.0 mm
Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει Θεοδώρῳ πρωτονουβελησίμῳ τῷ Κοτέρτζι.

Lord, help Theodore Kotertzes, protonobelissimos.

Commentary

The reading of the owner's family name is not entirely certain but is the most plausible. We read his title as protonobelissimos on the assumption that the third line of the reverse began with the single letter forming the abbreviation for proto-.