Leo imperial protospatharios and strategos of Hellas (ninth century)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on three steps. Linear border. Along the circumference inscription.
ΚΕΟΗΘΕ.ΤΣΔΟΥΛ.
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθε[ι] τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. No visible border.
ΛΕΟΝ
ΤΣΠ
ΘΡΣΤ
ΡΤ,Γ,ΕΛ
ΔΟ
Λέοντ(ι) β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθαρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) στρατ(η)γ(ῷ) Ἑλάδο(ς)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on three steps. Linear border. Along the circumference inscription.
ΚΕΟΗΘΕ.ΤΣΔΟΥΛ.
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθε[ι] τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. No visible border.
ΛΕΟΝ
ΤΣΠ
ΘΡΣΤ
ΡΤ,Γ,ΕΛ
ΔΟ
Λέοντ(ι) β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθαρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) στρατ(η)γ(ῷ) Ἑλάδο(ς)
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.90 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 21.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 2, no. 8.48. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Λέοντι βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Ἑλάδος.
Lord, help your servant Leo, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Hellas.
Bibliography
- Sceaux byzantins inédits (Open in Zotero)
- A Collection of Dated Byzantine Lead Seals (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
- Die byzantinische Armee im 10. und 11. Jahrhundert: Studien zur Organisation der Tagmata (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Seals similar but of later date are published by Konstantopoulos, no. 45; G. Schlumberger, "Sceaux byzantins inédits," RN 9 (1905) 322, no. 205; and Zacos, Seals II, no. 218. We know of a Leo Kotzes, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Hellas, mentioned in a Parthenon inscription; he died in August 848 and was probably buried on the Acropolis (Orlandos-Branouses, no. 164); he could have been the owner of our seal, the epigraphy of which shows remarkable similarity with that of patriarch Methodios (8430847: Dated Seals, no. 50).