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Constantine proedros, judge, and logothetes tou dromou (eleventh century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of five lines beginning with a cross. Decorations above and below. Border of dots.

  
ΣΦΡ
ΓΙΣΠΡΟΕ
ΡΟΥΚΙ
ΚΡΙΤΟΥ
Κ̅̅Ν̅
  

σφραγὶς προέδρου καὶ κριτοῦ Κων(σταντίνου)

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Decorations above and below. Border of dots.

  
ΙΦΡΟΝ
ΤΙΣΕΣΤΙΝ
ΚΡΙΤΝ
ΤΡΟ
ΜΝ
  

ᾧ φροντὶς ἐστιν ἀκριτῶν (καὶ) τῶ(ν) δρόμων

Obverse

Inscription of five lines beginning with a cross. Decorations above and below. Border of dots.

  
ΣΦΡ
ΓΙΣΠΡΟΕ
ΡΟΥΚΙ
ΚΡΙΤΟΥ
Κ̅̅Ν̅
  

σφραγὶς προέδρου καὶ κριτοῦ Κων(σταντίνου)

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Decorations above and below. Border of dots.

  
ΙΦΡΟΝ
ΤΙΣΕΣΤΙΝ
ΚΡΙΤΝ
ΤΡΟ
ΜΝ
  

ᾧ φροντὶς ἐστιν ἀκριτῶν (καὶ) τῶ(ν) δρόμων

Accession number BZS.1958.106.3958
Diameter 25.0 mm; field: 23.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2757.

Translation

σφραγὶς προέδρου καὶ κριτοῦ Κωνσταντίνου ᾧ φροντὶς ἐστιν ἀκριτῶν καὶ τῶν δρόμων.

Seal of the proedros and judge Constantine whose duty it is to supervise the frontier dwellers and the highways.

Commentary

This is a remarkable inscription. Note the ωι at the beginning of the first line of the reverse, indicating an iota adscript (in place of the subscript), and the description of the owner's duties as supervisor of the people living along the frontiers (ἀκρίται) and of the imperial highways (δρόμοι). See N. Oikonomides, "L'épopée de Digènes et la frontière orientale de Byzance aux Xe et XIe siècles," Travaux et mémoires 7 (1979), 386, with further references.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)