Elias spatharios and taxiarches of Sebasteia (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St. Michael, holding a long scepter in his right hand and a globus in his left hand. Traces of an inscription at right: χ : [Μ(ι)χ(αήλ). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
+κεR,θ,
ηληασπ
αθαρ,Sτα
ξιαρχι
σεRασ
–τ–
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Ἠλήᾳ σπαθαρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) ταξιάρχι Σεβαστ(είας)
Obverse
Bust of St. Michael, holding a long scepter in his right hand and a globus in his left hand. Traces of an inscription at right: χ : [Μ(ι)χ(αήλ). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
+κεR,θ,
ηληασπ
αθαρ,Sτα
ξιαρχι
σεRασ
–τ–
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Ἠλήᾳ σπαθαρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) ταξιάρχι Σεβαστ(είας)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.3659 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 21.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 49.1. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Ἠλήᾳ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ ταξιάρχι Σεβαστείας.
Lord, help Elias, spatharios and taxiarches of Sebasteia.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- Kappadokien (Kappadokia, Charsianon, Sebasteia und Lykandos) (Open in Zotero)
- Eastern Turkey: An Architectural and Archaeological Survey (Open in Zotero)
- Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)
- Ὁ Ταξίαρχης Κρήτης (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The taxiarches was the commander of one thousand infantrymen. See N. Oikonomides, "Ὁ ταξιάρχης Κρήτης," 'Αριάδνη 5 (1989) 119-24.
Today Sivas, Sebasteia was a kleisoura before 908 and is attested as a theme by 911. Cf. Listes, 349; Hild-Restle, Kappadokien, 274-76; Sinclair II, 296 ff, 526-527; Mikra Asia them., 331-335, 491 (E. Kountoura-Galake).