Nicholas Anzas, vestes, judge of the Hippodrome, and imperial notarios (1060–80)
Obverse
Half-length depiction of the Mother of God orans, with a medallion of Christ before her. Sigla at left and right: Μ̅Ρ̅Θ̅Υ̅ — Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Obverse
Half-length depiction of the Mother of God orans, with a medallion of Christ before her. Sigla at left and right: Μ̅Ρ̅Θ̅Υ̅ — Μ(ήτη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.
Θ̅Κ̅Ε̅,Θ,
ΝΙΚΟΛΑΩ
ΕΣΤ,ΚΡΙΤ,
ΕΠΙΤΙΟ
ΔΡΟΜ,SΑΝ,
ΤΑΡ,ΤΟΑΝ
a
Θεοτόκε βοήθει Νικολάῳ βέστῃ, κριτῇ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἱπποδρόμου καὶ βασιλικῷ νοταρίῳ το Ἀνζᾷ
Accession number | BZS.1955.1.2929 |
---|---|
Diameter | 1.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Nesbitt and Seibt, “Anzas Family,” 196 |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει Νικολάῳ βέστῃ, κριτῇ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἱπποδρόμου, καὶ βασιλικῷ νοταρίῳ το Ἀνζᾷ.
Mother of God, help Nicholas Anzas, vestes, judge of the Hippodrome, and imperial notarios.
Bibliography
- Die byzantinischen Bleisiegel in Österreich, Vol. 2, Zentral- und Provinzialverwaltung (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- The Anzas Family: Members of the Byzantine Civil Administration in the Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Centuries (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Three types of seals, dating from 1060 to 1080, attest the judicial career of Nicholas Anzas. They trace his rise in rank from hypatos to magistros, as well as duties relating to both the capital and the provinces. The first type is represented by two seals, one in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection (BZS.1958.106.4151) and one in the former Zacos Collection.
With the second type, Nicholas has moved up a grade to the rank of vestes. A fine line, appearing above ra on line 5 of the reverse, makes it clear that Nicholas is still an imperial notarios—βα(σιλικῷ) ν(ο)ταρ(ίῳ)—rather than a protonotarios—β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)ν(ο)ταρ(ίῳ). Laurent reasonably observed that Nicholas’s duties as imperial notarios may have continued to involve the sakelle.
Four seals of this type are known: the best-preserved is in the Vienna Coin Cabinet (no. 337; Wassiliou and Seibt, Österreich 2: no. 67a; Laurent, Corpus 2: no. 816). The other three are in the former Schlumberger Collection (Schlumberger, Sigillographie, 522–23, no. 3 [with facsimile]; 618, no. 1 [reading vestarches instead of vestes]), the Dumbarton Oaks Collection (this specimen), and in Vienna at the Mechitharist monastery (Vienna, Mechitharist Monastery, no. 37; Wassiliou and Seibt, Österreich 2: no. 67b). The obverse is one of the earliest examples of the Virgin Episkepsis type, which began appearing around the year 1060.
The third type documents a further rise in rank. Nicholas has the title of magistros and occupies the post of judge of Thrace and Macedonia. Nicholas’s rise in rank is reflected in his judicial duties as well: from the Hippodrome to the Velum, as well as additional duties associated with Thrace and Macedonia. This type is known from two seals, one in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection (BZS.1955.1.2928) and one in Vienna (Vienna Coin Cabinet, no. 113; Wassiliou and Seibt, Österreich 2: no. 196).