Niketas Kasnitzes, protospatharios epi tou Chrysotriklinou and strategos (tenth/eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St. Theodore Tiron, holding a spear in his right hand and a shield in his left. Inscription at left and right: |Θ|Ε|Ο Ο|Τ,|Ρ|Ο,: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θεό(δωρος) ὁ Τ(ή)ρο(ν). Border of dots.
Obverse
Bust of St. Theodore Tiron, holding a spear in his right hand and a shield in his left. Inscription at left and right: |Θ|Ε|Ο Ο|Τ,|Ρ|Ο,: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θεό(δωρος) ὁ Τ(ή)ρο(ν). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.
ΚΕ,Θ,
ΝΙΚΗΤ
ΑΣΠΑΘ,ΕΠΙ
ΤΓΚΛ,
ΣΡΤ,Γ,Τ.
ΚΝΗ
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Νικήτᾳ (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) ἐπὶ τοῦ Χρ(υσο)(τρι)κλ(ίνου) (καὶ) σ<τ>ρατ(η)γ(ῷ) τ[ῷ] Κασνήτζ(ῃ).
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1229 |
---|---|
Diameter | 1.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Parallels: Jordanov, Preslav, nos. 366–8 ( = Corpus 2, nos. 292–4). PBW : Niketas 20240 (boulloterion 4168). |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Νικήτᾳ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ ἐπὶ τοῦ Χρυσοτρικλίνου καὶ στρατηγῷ τῷ Κασνήτζῃ.
Lord, help Niketas Kasnitzes, protospatharios epi tou Chrysotriklinou and strategos.
Bibliography
- Pechatite ot strategii︠a︡ta v Preslav, 971-1088 (Open in Zotero)
- Corpus of Byzantine Seals from Bulgaria (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Jordanov dates the parallels from Preslav to the eleventh century. The present seal is more complete than these parallels and allows us to correct the reading of the inscriptions on both obverse and reverse.
Other members of the Kasnitzes family include a contemporary, Theodore Kasnitzes, protospatharios and strategos (Preslav, no. 464 = Corpus 2, no. 291), whose seal was also found in Preslav. The famous church of Nicholas ho tou Kasnitzou in Kastoria, from the end of the eleventh century, was founded by Nikephoros Kasnitzes, magistros.