Olbianos imperial spatharios and strategos of Macedonia (ninth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: ΤΣ.|ΔΛ. Wreath border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
..ΛΒΙ
.ΒΣΠΘ
.ΣΤΡΜ
ΚΕΔΟΝ
Ὀλβιανῷ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ (καὶ) στρατηγῷ Μακεδονίας
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: ΤΣ.|ΔΛ. Wreath border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
..ΛΒΙ
.ΒΣΠΘ
.ΣΤΡΜ
ΚΕΔΟΝ
Ὀλβιανῷ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ (καὶ) στρατηγῷ Μακεδονίας
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.1411 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 29.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 43.31. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ὀλβιανῷ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Μακεδονίας.
Theotokos, help your servant Olbianos imperial spatharios and strategos of Macedonia.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)
- The Byzantine Revival, 780-842 (Open in Zotero)
- Philippes et la Macédoine orientale à l’époque chrétienne et byzantine; recherches d’histoire et d’archéologie (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
- La Macédoine orientale à l’époque byzantine: à propos d'un livre récent (Open in Zotero)
- Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
- Theophanes Continuatus, Ioannes Cameniata, Symeon Magister, Georgius Monachus (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Because the name Olbianos is rare and this seal belongs to the early ninth century, one is tempted to propose that its owner later became the famous strategos of the Armeniakon Olbianos, who consistently supported Michael II against the rebel Thomas the Slav: Treadgold, Revival, 227-30, 236, 240, 425.