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John magistros, anthypatos, patrikios, imperial protospatharios and Domestic of the God-guarded Schools (tenth century, first half)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin holding the medallion before her. Sigla: ̅θυ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. A circular invocation along the circumference. Border of dots.

θκεοηθει.Σ

Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθει [τ]ῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

ινν,
μγιστρ
νθυπ,πτρι
κ,ˊˊσπθΟ
....εοφυ
.σχολ

Ἰωάνν(ῃ) μαγίστρῳ, ἀνθυπ(άτῳ), πατρικ(ίῳ), β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) δο[μεστίκῳ τ]ῶ[ν θ]εοφυ[λ(άκτων)] σχολῶ(ν)

Obverse

Bust of the Virgin holding the medallion before her. Sigla: ̅θυ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. A circular invocation along the circumference. Border of dots.

θκεοηθει.Σ

Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθει [τ]ῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ)

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

ινν,
μγιστρ
νθυπ,πτρι
κ,ˊˊσπθΟ
....εοφυ
.σχολ

Ἰωάνν(ῃ) μαγίστρῳ, ἀνθυπ(άτῳ), πατρικ(ίῳ), β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) δο[μεστίκῳ τ]ῶ[ν θ]εοφυ[λ(άκτων)] σχολῶ(ν)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.704
Diameter 26.0 mm; field: 23.0 mm
Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ μαγίστρῳ, ἀνθυπάτῳ, πατρικίῳ, βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ δομεστίκῳ τῶν θεοφυλάκτων σχολῶν.

Mother of God, help your servant John, magistros, anthypatos, patrikios, imperial protospatharios and Domestic of the God-guarded Schools.

Commentary

This seal likely belonged to the general John Kourkous who held the position of domestikos 923–44. For a later seal of his relative John Tzimiskes in the same position see the seal linked below.