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Stephen imperial chartoularios (sixth/seventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Cruciform monogram. Wreath border.

 -  - ν - ο -  - τ - υ - 

Στεφάνου

Reverse

Cruciform monogram. Wreath border.

- β - ι - κ - λ - ο - ρ - σ - τ - υ - χ

βασιλικοῦ χαρτουλαρίου

Obverse

Cruciform monogram. Wreath border.

 -  - ν - ο -  - τ - υ - 

Στεφάνου

Reverse

Cruciform monogram. Wreath border.

- β - ι - κ - λ - ο - ρ - σ - τ - υ - χ

βασιλικοῦ χαρτουλαρίου

Accession number BZS.1955.1.120
Diameter 23.0 mm

Translation

Στεφάνου βασιλικοῦ χαρτουλαρίου.

(Seal of) Stephen imperial chartoularios.

Commentary

The reverse of this seal is cut off, but the seal has great affinity to Zacos-Veglery, no. 496, and likely has monograms of the same disposition. The reverse of Zacos' seal is identical to that of BZS.1955.1.116. There are two possible resolutions for the reverse: βασιλικοῦ χαρτουλαρίου and χαρτουλαρίου (καὶ) κουβικουλαρίου. Both "imperial chartoularios" and "chartoularios and koubikoularios" have issues. The Σ necessary for imperial chartoularios must be found in the loop of the Ρ, the cut-off β, or somewhere off the flan. If the monogram contains both chartoularios and koubikoularios, one must interpret the Κ as also representing καὶ, as there is no clear  present. It is even possible that this Stephen may have been "imperial chartoularios and koubikoularios, cf. the Stephen of BZS.1955.1.53, or something else entirely, based on the cut-off letters. However, the presence in our collection of three other Stephen imperial chartoularios seals render this reading somewhat certain--especially BZS.1958.106.1148, which separates the monograms for βασιλικοῦ and χαρτουλαρίου.

Bibliography