Romanos patrikios and strategos of the Islands (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin orans, with the medallion in front of her. Inscription: ̅ΘΥ̅: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin orans, with the medallion in front of her. Inscription: ̅ΘΥ̅: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines preceded and followed by an ornament. Border of dots.
ΚΕ,Θ,
ΡΜΑΝ
Π̅Ρ̅Ι̅⸣ΣΤΡΑ
ΤΗΓΤ.
ΝΙΣΣΝ
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Ρωμανῷ π(ατ)ρι(κίῳ) (καὶ) στρατηγῷ τῶ[ν] Νίσσων
Accession number | BZS.1947.2.81 |
---|---|
Diameter | 32.0 mm; field: 27.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 2, no. 43.4. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει ῾Ρωμανῷ πατρικίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ τῶν Νίσσων.
Lord, help Romanos patrikios and strategos of the Islands.
Bibliography
- Corinth, Vol. 12, The Minor Objects (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Line 5: what we read as the second Σ is a muddled letter that could as well be a Ι; in this case one should read Νησίων.
This is the only seal on which the reading "strategos of the Islands" is certain. In Corinth XII, no. 2699, there appears a very doubtful ninth-century specimen (one could as well read Νηκοπόλεως, although this is also uncertain); and Zacos, Seals II, no. 95, published a very "provincial" 10th century seal of an Artabasdos imperial protospatharios and ΣΤΡΑΤΕΓΟΝΣ, that he reasonably, but not incontestably, reads as Νήσων.