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Michael Saronites, protospatharios and strategos of Macedonia (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. Michael holding scepter with trefoil and globe. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

ΚΕ̅Θ,
..Χ,ΑΣΠΑ
ΘΑΡ,Σ...
ΤΙΓ,ΜΑ..
ΣΑΡΟΝ,
Τ,

Κύριε βοήθει Μιχαὴλ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατιγ Μακεδονίας τ Σαρονίτ

Obverse

Bust of St. Michael holding scepter with trefoil and globe. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

ΚΕ̅Θ,
..Χ,ΑΣΠΑ
ΘΑΡ,Σ...
ΤΙΓ,ΜΑ..
ΣΑΡΟΝ,
Τ,

Κύριε βοήθει Μιχαὴλ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατιγ Μακεδονίας τ Σαρονίτ

Accession number BZS.1958.106.2536
Diameter 28.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 43.30.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει Μιχαὴλ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατιγῷ Μακεδονίας τῷ Σαρονίτῃ.

Lord, help Michael Saronites, protospatharios and strategos of Macedonia.

Commentary

From a seal published by Mordtmann (Ἐλλ. Φιλολ. Σύλλ. 17, Suppl. [1886] 144), we know that a Michael Saronites, who held the rank of vestarches, was katepano of Bulgaria (1072: cf. Banescu, Duchés, 147). Like the present specimen, it is decorated with an image of St. Michael.

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)
  • Les duchés byzantins de Paristrion (Paradounavon) et de Bulgarie (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)