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Michael imperial protospatharios epi tou Chrysotriklinou and protostrator (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross mounted on a base of four steps. Fleurons adorn the lower portion. A circular inscription between two borders of dots.

κεοηθειτσουλ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

μιχ
αηλλˊαˊ
σπαθˊαˊσ
τρατορ,ε
πιτουχρ
υσοτρ,

Μιχαὴλ{λ} β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) (πρωτο)στράτορ(ι) (καὶ) ἐπὶ τοῦ Χρυσοτρ(ικλίνου)

Obverse

Patriarchal cross mounted on a base of four steps. Fleurons adorn the lower portion. A circular inscription between two borders of dots.

κεοηθειτσουλ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

μιχ
αηλλˊαˊ
σπαθˊαˊσ
τρατορ,ε
πιτουχρ
υσοτρ,

Μιχαὴλ{λ} β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) (πρωτο)στράτορ(ι) (καὶ) ἐπὶ τοῦ Χρυσοτρ(ικλίνου)

Accession number BZS.1958.106.1988
Diameter 23.0 mm; field: 17.0 mm

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ πρωτοστράτορι καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ Χρυσοτρικλίνου.

Lord, help your servant Michael imperial protospatharios and protostrator and epi tou Chrysotriklinou.

Commentary

The engraver did not have his best day when working on this seal. He included a superfluous lambda in the owner's name and inverted the order of protostrator and epi tou Chrysotriklinou.