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Michael imperial cleric, chartoularios of the oikonomos of the Great Church, and kourator . . . ? (ninth/tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Cross mounted on ball above three steps. Circular inscription beginning at 7 o'clock.

...ιεοηθ.ιτσδουλ

[Κύρι]ε βοήθ[ε]ι τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of six (?) lines. Border of dots.

μι.α
κλιρικχαρ
τ,τ,οικ,τ,μεγ.
κκλισ,S..
τ,παρ..
...

Μι[χ]α(ὴλ) β(ασιλικῷ) κλιρικ(ῷ), χα[ρ]τ(ουλαρίῳ) τ(οῦ) οἰκ(ονόμου) τ(ῆς) Μεγ(άλης) [Ἐ]κκλισ(ίας), (καὶ) [κουρ(άτορι)] τ(οῦ) or τ(ῷ) . . .

Obverse

Cross mounted on ball above three steps. Circular inscription beginning at 7 o'clock.

...ιεοηθ.ιτσδουλ

[Κύρι]ε βοήθ[ε]ι τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of six (?) lines. Border of dots.

μι.α
κλιρικχαρ
τ,τ,οικ,τ,μεγ.
κκλισ,S..
τ,παρ..
...

Μι[χ]α(ὴλ) β(ασιλικῷ) κλιρικ(ῷ), χα[ρ]τ(ουλαρίῳ) τ(οῦ) οἰκ(ονόμου) τ(ῆς) Μεγ(άλης) [Ἐ]κκλισ(ίας), (καὶ) [κουρ(άτορι)] τ(οῦ) or τ(ῷ) . . .

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4919
Diameter 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 42.33b; Laurent, Corpus 5.3: no. 1643. The reading of the present specimen has been restored by comparison with its counterpart noted below.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ βασιλικῷ κλιρικῷ, χαρτουλαρίῳ τοῦ οἰκονόμου τῆς Μεγάλης Ἐκκλισίας, καὶ κουράτορι τοῦ (or τῷ) . . .

Lord, help your servant Michael imperial cleric, chartoularios of the oikonomos of the Great Church, and kourator . . .

Commentary

Laurent has suggested that the final two lines of the reverse are to be read: κουράτορι τοῦ παρακοιμωμένου. It is more likely that Michael was the kourator of a domain.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)