Skip to Content

Nikephoros vestarches, (son of) Aktarios (eleventh century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

St Demetrios standing, holding a spear and shield. Sigla on either side: |Δ|ΗΜ|Η|ΤΡ|Ι|Ο|Σ: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Δημήτριος. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.

ΚΕ̅,Θ,
ΝΙΚΙΟΡ,
ΕΣΤΑΡΧΙ
ΤΑΡΚΤΑ̣
Ρ̣Ι̣̣

Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικιφόρ(ῳ) βεστάρχι τοῦ Ἀρκταρίου

Obverse

St Demetrios standing, holding a spear and shield. Sigla on either side: |Δ|ΗΜ|Η|ΤΡ|Ι|Ο|Σ: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Δημήτριος. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.

ΚΕ̅,Θ,
ΝΙΚΙΟΡ,
ΕΣΤΑΡΧΙ
ΤΑΡΚΤΑ̣
Ρ̣Ι̣̣

Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικιφόρ(ῳ) βεστάρχι τοῦ Ἀρκταρίου

Accession number BZS.1958.106.3090
Diameter 24.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm
Previous Editions

W. Seibt, "Was the Byzantine dignitary Nikephoros bestarches, (son of) Aktarios (late 11th century), a man of Turkish origin?" in: Studia Academica Šumenensia. Contribution to Byzantine Sigillography. Ed. by Ivan Jordanov and Ivo Topalilov, Vol. 5 (2018), 72-74.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει Νικιφόρῳ βεστάρχι τοῦ Ἀρκταρίου.

Lord, help the vestarches Nikephoros (son of) Arktarios.