Nicholas Rhadenos, protospatharios and judge of the Armenian themes (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God holding the Christ child on her left arm. Sigla visible at left: : Μή(τη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, a decoration below. Border of dots.
.κεR,θ
νικολ,α̅σπα
θαρ,Sκριτ,
τοναρμ,θε
μ,οραδιν
– –
[Θ(εοτό)]κε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικολ(άῳ) (πρωτο)σπαθαρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) κριτ(ῇ) τον Ἀρμ(ενικῶν) θεμ(άτων) ὁ Ῥαδιν(ός)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God holding the Christ child on her left arm. Sigla visible at left: : Μή(τη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, a decoration below. Border of dots.
.κεR,θ
νικολ,α̅σπα
θαρ,Sκριτ,
τοναρμ,θε
μ,οραδιν
– –
[Θ(εοτό)]κε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικολ(άῳ) (πρωτο)σπαθαρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) κριτ(ῇ) τον Ἀρμ(ενικῶν) θεμ(άτων) ὁ Ῥαδιν(ός)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.506 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 26.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 56.8; see also W. Seibt, "Ἀρμενικὰ θέματα", 135, no. 6. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει Νικολάῳ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ κριτῇ τον Ἀρμενικῶν θεμάτων ὁ Ῥαδινός.
Mother of God, help Nicholas Rhadenos, protospatharios and judge of the Armenian themes.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
- Die byzantinische Armee im 10. und 11. Jahrhundert: Studien zur Organisation der Tagmata (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- L’organisation de la frontière orientale de Byzance aux Xe-XIe siècles et Le Taktikon de l’Escorial (Open in Zotero)
- Ἀρμενικὰ Θέματα als terminus technicus der byzantinischen Verwaltungsgeschichte des 11. Jahrhunderts (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
- The Land Legislation of the Macedonian Emperors (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Other seals of Nicholas Rhadenos record his position as judge of the theme of Lykandos, sometime in the middle of the eleventh century; see PBW : Nikolaos 20133.