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John Gypsinos, protospatharios epi tou Chrysotriklinou, mystolektes and judge of the Velum (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of five lines, top line missing. Border of dots.

....
ι̅α,σπ.
θ,επιτ.
κλ,μυσ.
λεκτ

Κύριε βοήθει Ἰωάννῃ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ ἐπὶ τοῦ Χρυσο(τρι)κλίνου, μυστολέκτ

Reverse

Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.

.κριτ.
.πιτου
.ππο,τ
.υψιν,

(καὶ) κριτῇ ἐπὶ τοῦ πποδρόμου τῷ Γυψίν

Obverse

Inscription of five lines, top line missing. Border of dots.

....
ι̅α,σπ.
θ,επιτ.
κλ,μυσ.
λεκτ

Κύριε βοήθει Ἰωάννῃ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ ἐπὶ τοῦ Χρυσο(τρι)κλίνου, μυστολέκτ

Reverse

Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.

.κριτ.
.πιτου
.ππο,τ
.υψιν,

(καὶ) κριτῇ ἐπὶ τοῦ πποδρόμου τῷ Γυψίν

Accession number BZS.1958.106.3448
Diameter 17.0 mm

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει Ἰωάννῃ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ ἐπὶ τοῦ Χρυσοτρικλίνου, μυστολέκτῃ καὶ κριτῇ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἱπποδρόμου τῷ Γυψίνῳ.

Lord, help John Gypsinos protospatharios epi tou Chrysotriklinou, mystolektes and judge of the Hippodrome.

Commentary

This seal should be read in connection with another belonging to John Gypsinos (BZS 1955.1.3432) which has the same reverse inscription. The obverse of this seal, however, has been redone to record his elevation to mystolektes, a title that in fact should have been placed on the reverse after judge of the Hippodrome.