George spatharokandidatos and tourmarches of Spartari (tenth/eleventh century)
Obverse
Mounted warrior seated in a relaxed posture. He holds a spear horizontally with the point toward the back. He wears a large headpiece decorated with a row of pellets. The large saddle is attached in front and back with large leather strips, also decorated with pellets. No legend. Border of dots.
Obverse
Mounted warrior seated in a relaxed posture. He holds a spear horizontally with the point toward the back. He wears a large headpiece decorated with a row of pellets. The large saddle is attached in front and back with large leather strips, also decorated with pellets. No legend. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
ΓΕΟΡΓΗΟ,
ΣΠΑΘΑΡΟΚΑΔ
ΤΡΟΥΜΑΡΣ
ΣΠΑΡΤΑ
ΡΟΥ
Γεόργηος σπαθαροκανδιδᾶτος καὶ τρουμάρχης Σπάρταρου
Accession number | BZS.1958.106.5733 |
---|---|
Diameter | 24.0 mm; field: 19.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 2, no. 7.1a. |
Translation
Γεόργηος σπαθαροκανδιδᾶτος καὶ τρουμάρχης Σπάρταρου.
George spatharokandidatos and tourmarches of Spartari.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 2: South of the Balkans, the Islands, South of Asia Minor (Open in Zotero)
- L’évolution de l’organisation administrative de l’empire byzantin au XIe siècle (1025–1118) (Open in Zotero)
- A Collection of Dated Byzantine Lead Seals (Open in Zotero)
- Griechische Paleographie (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This seal is edited jointly with two others from the same boulloterion: BZS 1958.106.5734 and 1958.106.5735. There is extensive commentary on these seals, the otherwise unattested toponym Spartari, and the remarkable image of the horseman on the obverse in DO Seals 2, 7.1.