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Leo imperial protospatharios and ek prosopou of Aigaion Pelagos (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps with fleurons (up to first arm). Along the border of dots, inscription.

ΚΕΟΗΘΕΙΤΣΔΛ,

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΛΕΟΝ.
ˊˊΣΠΘˊ.
Ρ,ˊΕΚΠΡΟ.
Π,Τ,ΕΓΙ.
ΠΕΛΓ

Λέοντι βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ ἐκ προσώπου τοῦ Ἐγίου Πελάγους

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps with fleurons (up to first arm). Along the border of dots, inscription.

ΚΕΟΗΘΕΙΤΣΔΛ,

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΛΕΟΝ.
ˊˊΣΠΘˊ.
Ρ,ˊΕΚΠΡΟ.
Π,Τ,ΕΓΙ.
ΠΕΛΓ

Λέοντι βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ ἐκ προσώπου τοῦ Ἐγίου Πελάγους

Accession number BZS.1958.106.2474
Diameter 21.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 2, no. 40.11.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Λέοντι βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ ἐκ προσώπου τοῦ Ἐγίου Πελάγους.

Lord, help your servant Leo imperial protospatharios and ek prosopou of Aigaion Pelagos.

Commentary

The form Ἐγίου is not unique, cf. DO Seals 2, no. 40.7. The ninth-century seal of Nicholas ek prosopou (without mention of the province) was discovered in the neighborhood of Methymna (SBS2 [1990] 167). This could well be an ek prosopou of the Aigaion Pelagos, like the owner of the present seal.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 2: South of the Balkans, the Islands, South of Asia Minor (Open in Zotero)
  • Methodii Patriarchae Constantinopolitani Vita S. Theophanis Confessoris: e codice mosquensi no. 159 (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
  • Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)