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Arsaber imperial protospatharios and kleisouriarches of Seleukeia (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on a base of three steps standing on a ball. Fleurons rise to the first arm, and rosaces appear in the upper quarters. Invocative inscription within a border of dots.

ΚΕΟΗΘΕΙΤΣΔΟΥΛˊ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει [τῷ σῷ δο]ὐλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΑΡΣΑ
ΗΡˊΑˊΣ
ΠΑΘˊΚΛΙΣ
ΟΥΡΙΑΡΧ̅Σ
ΕΛΕΥΚ/

Ἀρσαβὴρ β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ), κλισουριάρχ(ῃ) Σελευκ(είας)

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on a base of three steps standing on a ball. Fleurons rise to the first arm, and rosaces appear in the upper quarters. Invocative inscription within a border of dots.

ΚΕΟΗΘΕΙΤΣΔΟΥΛˊ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει [τῷ σῷ δο]ὐλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΑΡΣΑ
ΗΡˊΑˊΣ
ΠΑΘˊΚΛΙΣ
ΟΥΡΙΑΡΧ̅Σ
ΕΛΕΥΚ/

Ἀρσαβὴρ β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ), κλισουριάρχ(ῃ) Σελευκ(είας)

Accession number BZS 1951.31.5.576
Diameter 23.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 6.9.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἀρσαβὴρ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ, κλισουριάρχῃ Σελευκείας.

Lord, help your servant Arsaber, imperial protospatharios, kleisouriarches of Seleukeia.

Commentary

Following the loss of Cilicia to the Arabs in the eighth century, the region of Seleukeia was reorganized for the defense of the Byzantine borderlands and became an administrative and military kleisoura, first attested in the first half of the ninth century, and which was elevated to a theme during the reign of Romanos I, between 927 and 934. This Arsaber is likely one of the later individuals to hold this office.

The engraver of this seal seems to have omitted the conjunction καί.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)