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John Thylakas spatharokandidatos, asekretis and judge of Lykandos (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of four lines, a decoration below. Border of dots.

θ̅κ̅εRθ
τσδ,
Ισπαθ,
ροκ,ν

Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Ἰω(άννῃ) σπαθ(α)ροκ(α)νδ(ι)δ(άτῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, top line missing. Border of dots.

...
κρητ,S
κριτηλυ
κανδ,
θηλαˋκ
  

[ἀση]κρῆτ(ις) (καὶ) κριτῇ Λυκανδ(οῦ) τῷ {ω} Θηλακᾷ

Obverse

Inscription of four lines, a decoration below. Border of dots.

θ̅κ̅εRθ
τσδ,
Ισπαθ,
ροκ,ν

Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Ἰω(άννῃ) σπαθ(α)ροκ(α)νδ(ι)δ(άτῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, top line missing. Border of dots.

...
κρητ,S
κριτηλυ
κανδ,
θηλαˋκ
  

[ἀση]κρῆτ(ις) (καὶ) κριτῇ Λυκανδ(οῦ) τῷ {ω} Θηλακᾷ

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.89
Diameter 29.0 mm; field: 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 53.2. See also John W. Nesbitt, "Overstruck Seals" SBS 2 (1990) 90-91.

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

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ σπαθαροκανδιδάτῳ, ἀσηκρῆτις καὶ κριτῇ Λυκανδοῦ τῷ Θηλακᾷ.

Mother of God, help your servant John Thylakas, spatharokandidatos, asekretis, and judge of Lykandos.

Commentary

The engraver mistakenly added a second ω after the ligature for τῷ in line 4 of the reverse; on line 5 he inscribed a superfluous abbreviation sign. One  wonders whether these peculiarities would not just be remnants of a first strike. On the owner, see BZS.1951.31.5.1224.

Bibliography