Leontios hypatos and kommerkiarios of Chaldia (ninth/tenth century)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on three (?) steps. Circular inscription, beginning at seven o'clock. Border of dots.
+κεRοηθητσδλ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
+λεον
τηουπα
.Sκομ
ερκιαρι
χ..δ/
Λεοντήο ὑπά[τ]ῳ (καὶ) κομερκιαρί(ῳ) Χ[αλ]δ(ίας)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on three (?) steps. Circular inscription, beginning at seven o'clock. Border of dots.
+κεRοηθητσδλ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
+λεον
τηουπα
.Sκομ
ερκιαρι
χ..δ/
Λεοντήο ὑπά[τ]ῳ (καὶ) κομερκιαρί(ῳ) Χ[αλ]δ(ίας)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.4356 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 32.23. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Λεοντήο ὑπάτῳ καὶ κομερκιαρίῳ Χαλδίας.
Lord, help your servant Leontios, hypatos and kommerkiarios of Chaldia.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
- Βυζαντιακὰ μολυβδόβουλλα. Ἡ συλλογὴ Ἀναστασίου Κ. Π. Σταμούλη (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos (Open in Zotero)
- De Thematibus (Open in Zotero)
- Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Originally a tourma of the Armeniakoi, Chaldia is mentioned as a doukaton late in the eighth and early in the ninth century (Konstantopoulos, no. 158a; Zacos-Veglery, nos. 3088A, 3226A). It is not impossible that at this time Chaldia was still part of the Armeniakoi and that its commander could have been called doux of the Armeniakoi (meaning of one part of the theme of the Armeniakoi, i.e. Chaldia). The theme of Chaldia was created in the ninth century, perhaps as early as 824 and no later than 840. It comprised the regions of the Pontos along the southeastern shores of the Black Sea; its administrative center was Trebizond. Because of the important trade routes to Trebizond, the strategos of Chaldia drew half his salary from the state (10 pounds of gold annually) and half from the revenues of the kommerkion. See Listes, 349; Bryer-Winfield, Pontos, 299-318 (316-318, list of officers); Pertusi, De Them., 73, 137-39; Mikra Asia them., 287-297, 459-468 (A. Savvides).