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Asterios/Eustratios kourator (?) (sixth/seventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Busts of two figures facing each other, likely Sts. Peter and Paul. The left figure is likely St. Peter, though has a long shaggy beard, while the right figure is St. Paul, who is bald with a long beard. Wreath border below. Double wreath border above.

Reverse

Cruciform monogram. Border of dots, surrounded by heavy linear border.

 -  - ι - κ - ο - ρ -  - τ - υ

Ἀστερίου/Εὐστρατίου κουράτορος

 

Obverse

Busts of two figures facing each other, likely Sts. Peter and Paul. The left figure is likely St. Peter, though has a long shaggy beard, while the right figure is St. Paul, who is bald with a long beard. Wreath border below. Double wreath border above.

Reverse

Cruciform monogram. Border of dots, surrounded by heavy linear border.

 -  - ι - κ - ο - ρ -  - τ - υ

Ἀστερίου/Εὐστρατίου κουράτορος

 

Accession number BZS.1955.1.274
Diameter 17.0 mm; field: 11.0 mm

Translation

Ἀστερίου/Εὐστρατίου κουράτορος.

(Seal of) Asterios/Eustratios kourator.

Commentary

The reverse monogram of this seal is difficult in its ambiguity of interpretation; it can any combination of the two names and two titles Eustratios and Asterios, and kourator and aktouarios. It is unclear which is correct of the two names, though κουράτορος is more likely than ἀκτουαρίου. The obverse iconography presents a different issue; though it is likely that it is Sts. Peter and Paul, especially because of its similarity to BZS.1955.1.261, the figure of St. Peter has a longer and shaggier beard than normal, and seemingly different hair as well. Moreover, it is unclear why that image would be on this seal, as on the seal of Dometios, it is placed in reference to the Church of the two saints within the precincts of the Orphanotropheion.