Skip to Content

Constantine ...polites, patrikios and katepano of Dristra (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. Nicholas blessing and holding book. Inscription in two columns: Ν|ΙΚ|Ο|Λ: ἅγιος Νικόλαος. Traces of circular inscription. No visible border.

............ουλ.

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλ

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. No visible border.

κν.
ταντιν,.
ατρικ.
ατεπα..
..ιστ..
.πο.
.τ,

Κωνσταντίν πατρικίῳ καὶ κατεπάνω Δρίστρας τῷ ..πολίτ

Obverse

Bust of St. Nicholas blessing and holding book. Inscription in two columns: Ν|ΙΚ|Ο|Λ: ἅγιος Νικόλαος. Traces of circular inscription. No visible border.

............ουλ.

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλ

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. No visible border.

κν.
ταντιν,.
ατρικ.
ατεπα..
..ιστ..
.πο.
.τ,

Κωνσταντίν πατρικίῳ καὶ κατεπάνω Δρίστρας τῷ ..πολίτ

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.3400
Diameter 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 65.1.

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

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Κωνσταντίνῳ πατρικίῳ καὶ κατεπάνω Δρίστρας τῷ ..πολίτῃ.

Lord, help your servant Constantine ...polites, patrikios and katepano of Dristra.

Commentary

The reconstruction of the place name could also be Παριστρίου, but this would not make any substantial difference. The family name is obviously a composite, with πολίτης at the end: something like Ἀκροπολίτης, Καλλιπολίτης, Ἰωνοπολίτης, Οὐρανοπολίτης, Τριπολίτης, and the like. We measure space for three letters, thus the two latter names are more likely but remain uncertain.

Dristra or Dorostolon (modern Silistra on the Danube) was organized by the Byzantines as a strategeia following its conquest in 971 (cf. Listes, 362). It may have passed to the Bulgars between 986 and 1000 (contrary to Bulgarian scholars, Bǎnescu, Duchés, 48-54, maintained that the city remained continuously under Byzzantine control). After 1000, it became a major administrative center, probably the seat of the katepano of Paradounavon, and had important economic activities, in spite of the Petcheneg threat of the eleventh century. See also V. Tŭpkova-Zaimova, Dolni Dunav--granična zona na viznatijskija zapad (Sofia, 1976); I. Jordanov, "Pečati na Leon Sarakinopul ot Veliki Preslav," Arheologija 24/1 (1982) 12-23; and DO Seals 1, no. 67.1 (BZS.1958.106.4797).

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)
  • Les duchés byzantins de Paristrion (Paradounavon) et de Bulgarie (Open in Zotero)
  • Dolni Dunav--granichna zona na Vizantiĭskii︠a︡ Zapad: kŭm istorii︠a︡ta na severnita i severoiztochnite bŭlgarski zemi, krai︠a︡ na X-XII n (Open in Zotero)
  • Pečati na Leon Sarakinopul ot Veliki Preslav (Open in Zotero)