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Michael vestes, hypatos, judge of the Hippodrome and of Charsianon (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

St Michael standing, holding a scepter with a trefoil ornament and a globus cruciger. Vertical inscription on either side: μ|ι-χ|α : Μιχα(ήλ). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.

  
κεοηθ,
μιχαηλεσ
τηυπατκρι
τηεπιτι
δρομτου
χαρσιαν,
  

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) Μιχαὴλ βέστῃ, ὑπάτῳ, κριτῇ, ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἱππ(ο)δρόμου (καὶ) τοῦ Χαρσιαν(οῦ)

Obverse

St Michael standing, holding a scepter with a trefoil ornament and a globus cruciger. Vertical inscription on either side: μ|ι-χ|α : Μιχα(ήλ). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.

  
κεοηθ,
μιχαηλεσ
τηυπατκρι
τηεπιτι
δρομτου
χαρσιαν,
  

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) Μιχαὴλ βέστῃ, ὑπάτῳ, κριτῇ, ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἱππ(ο)δρόμου (καὶ) τοῦ Χαρσιαν(οῦ)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.517
Diameter 27.0 mm; field: 25.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 40.11.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει Μιχαὴλ βέστῃ, ὑπάτῳ, κριτῇ, ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἱπποδρόμου καὶ τοῦ Χαρσιανοῦ.

Lord, help Michael, vestes, hypatos, judge of the Hippodrome and of Charsianon.

Commentary

The term hypatos may designate a title or refer here to a judicial official (cf. Listes, 325). Note that Zacos has published a similar seal of Michael, vestes, judge of the Hippodrome and Charsianon, who could be identical to the owner of the present specimen (Zacos, Seals II, no. 603).

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
  • Studies in Byzantine Sigillography (Open in Zotero)
  • War Gagik II. von Grossarmenien ca. 1072-1073 Μέγας Δοὺξ Χαρσιανοῦ? (Open in Zotero)
  • Kappadokien (Kappadokia, Charsianon, Sebasteia und Lykandos) (Open in Zotero)
  • Le thème et la forteresse de Charsianon: Recherches dans la région d’Akdagmadeni (Open in Zotero)
  • Charsianon-Kastron/Qal’ei Harsanos (Open in Zotero)
  • Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας (Open in Zotero)