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.
θκεοηθει.Σ
Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθει [τ]ῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ)
Obverse
Bust of the Virgin holding the medallion before her. Sigla: ̅θυ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. A circular invocation along the circumference. Border of dots.
θκεοηθει.Σ
Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθει [τ]ῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ)
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.
ινν,
μγιστρ
νθυπ,πτρι
κ,ˊˊσπθΟ
....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.