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Julian apo hypaton and genikos kommerkiarios of the apotheke of Lydia (687/688)

 
 

Obverse

Justinian II standing, holding the globus cruciger in his right hand. On either side the indiction year: . Within a linear border, part of a circular inscription starting on the right.

ιλ...-πουπατοˊ

Ἰουλιανοῦ ἀπὸ ὑπάτον

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. No border visible.

.γενι
κκομμε
ρκιαρι.
ποθικ
υδια

(καὶ) γενικοῦ κομμερκιαρίου ποθίκης Λυδίας

Obverse

Justinian II standing, holding the globus cruciger in his right hand. On either side the indiction year: . Within a linear border, part of a circular inscription starting on the right.

ιλ...-πουπατοˊ

Ἰουλιανοῦ ἀπὸ ὑπάτον

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. No border visible.

.γενι
κκομμε
ρκιαρι.
ποθικ
υδια

(καὶ) γενικοῦ κομμερκιαρίου ποθίκης Λυδίας

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1767
Diameter 31.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 3, no. 24.5.

Translation

Ἰνδικτιὼν α'  
Ἰουλιανοῦ ἀπὸ ὑπάτον καὶ γενικοῦ κομμερκιαρίου ἀποθίκης Λυδίας.

Indiction 1.
(Seal of) Julian apo hypaton and genikos kommerkiarios of the apotheke of Lydia.

Commentary

The depiction of a lone emperor with chlamys presents no significant difference from one reign to the other in the years shortly before and after 700. In this case of the present specimen, the emperor represented could be Justinian II (putting the seal in 687/688) or Tiberios III (putting it in 702/703). We favor Justinian II and the first date based on the career of Julian, who is attested as kommerkiarios from 687/688 to 691/692 (see Zacos-Veglery, 149, table 5).

The Roman province of Lydia kept its name and its administrative prerogative until the ninth century even though the theme of the Thrakesion was then well in existence.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)