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Phokas imperial spatharokandidatos and tourmarches of the Peloponnesos (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross (X on first crossing) on three steps with fleurons arising from base (up to first traverse bar). On pellet in each upper quarter. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΚΕΟΗΘΕΙΤΣ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ [δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΦΚ
..ΣΠΘ,Κ
ΝΚΤΡΟ
ΜΑΡΧΠΕΛ
ΟΠΟΝΙΣ

Φωκᾷ [βα(σιλικῷ)] σπαθ(αρο)κανδ(ι)δ(άτῳ) κ(αὶ) τρομάρχ(ῃ) Πελοπονίσ(ου)

Obverse

Patriarchal cross (X on first crossing) on three steps with fleurons arising from base (up to first traverse bar). On pellet in each upper quarter. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΚΕΟΗΘΕΙΤΣ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ [δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΦΚ
..ΣΠΘ,Κ
ΝΚΤΡΟ
ΜΑΡΧΠΕΛ
ΟΠΟΝΙΣ

Φωκᾷ [βα(σιλικῷ)] σπαθ(αρο)κανδ(ι)δ(άτῳ) κ(αὶ) τρομάρχ(ῃ) Πελοπονίσ(ου)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.962
Diameter 21.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 2, no. 22.42.

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

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Φωκᾷ βασιλικῷ σπαθαροκανδιδάτῳ καὶ τρομάρχῃ Πελοπονίσου.

Lord, help your servant Phokas imperial spatharokandidatos and tourmarches of the Peloponnesos.

Commentary

We know of several more seals of tourmarchai of the Peloponnesos (Bon, Péloponnèse, 187, no. 8; 193, nos. 35, 37; Winkelmann, Ämterstruktur, 104), some of which, being of relatively early date, have been interpreted as showing that the Peloponnese had been a tourma of the theme of Hellas before becoming a theme in its own right. The present seal is certainly from the time that the theme of Peloponnesos existed and is mentioned as such by Constantine Porphyrogennetos: as there were several tourmarchai in each theme, we suppose that the one called "Peloponnesou" commanded part of the theme's troops, those of the seat of the strategos (i.e., of Corinth).

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 2: South of the Balkans, the Islands, South of Asia Minor (Open in Zotero)
  • Le Peloponnese byzantin jusqu’en 1204 (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
  • La Morée franque: Recherches historiques, topographiques et archéologiques sur la principauté d’Achaïe (1205-1430) (Open in Zotero)
  • Die Skleroi: Eine prosopographisch-sigillographische Studie (Open in Zotero)
  • Theophanis Chronographia (Open in Zotero)
  • Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
  • Realities of Byzantine Provincial Government: Hellas and Peloponnesos, 1180-1205 (Open in Zotero)
  • Die byzantinische Armee im 10. und 11. Jahrhundert: Studien zur Organisation der Tagmata (Open in Zotero)