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David (?) patrikios, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Sicily (eighth/ninth century)

 
 

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: .Σ|ΔΛ. Wreath border.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Indeterminate border.

Δ.
ΠΤΡΗΚ
ΒΣΠΘ.
ΣΤΡΤΗΓΟ.
ΗΚΕΛΗΣ
ΜΗΝ

Δαβὶδ πατρηκίῳ, βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ (καὶ) στρατηγο Σηκελήας, ἀμήν.

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: .Σ|ΔΛ. Wreath border.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Indeterminate border.

Δ.
ΠΤΡΗΚ
ΒΣΠΘ.
ΣΤΡΤΗΓΟ.
ΗΚΕΛΗΣ
ΜΗΝ

Δαβὶδ πατρηκίῳ, βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ (καὶ) στρατηγο Σηκελήας, ἀμήν.

Accession number BZS.1958.106.4168
Diameter 35.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 5.16.
Zacos-Veglery, no. 2612.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Δαβὶδ πατρηκίῳ, βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγο Σηκελήας, ἀμήν.

Theotokos, help your servant David, patrikios, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Sicily. Amen.

Commentary

Zacos-Veglery suggest that the name could be read ΙΩΑΝΝΗ, but the initial letter appears to have the flat base of a Δ.

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)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
  • Storia della Sicilia, Vol. 3, La Sicilia fra Roma e Bisanzio (Open in Zotero)
  • L’amministrazione del tema de Sicilia (Open in Zotero)
  • La Sicile byzantine: État de recherches (Open in Zotero)
  • Une liste arabe des stratèges du thème de Sicile (Open in Zotero)
  • Une source peu étudiée de l’histoire de la Sicile au haut Moyen-Age: La sigillographie byzantine (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
  • Theophanes Continuatus, Ioannes Cameniata, Symeon Magister, Georgius Monachus (Open in Zotero)