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Sergios patrikios and strategos (eighth century)

 
 

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: τω -  | λω - σ. Wreath border.

Θεότοκε βοήθει τῷ δοῦλῳ σοῦ

Reverse

Inscription of four lines. Above, a cross. Wreath border.


σεργι
ωπτρι
ωστρ
ηγω

Σεργίῳ πατρι[κί]ῳ (καὶ) στρ[ατ]ηγῷ

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: τω -  | λω - σ. Wreath border.

Θεότοκε βοήθει τῷ δοῦλῳ σοῦ

Reverse

Inscription of four lines. Above, a cross. Wreath border.


σεργι
ωπτρι
ωστρ
ηγω

Σεργίῳ πατρι[κί]ῳ (καὶ) στρ[ατ]ηγῷ

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.919
Diameter 1.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Zacos–Veglery, no. 2355b

Translation

Θεότοκε βοήθει τῷ δοῦλῳ σοῦ Σεργίῳ πατρικίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ.

Mother of God, help your servant Sergios patrikios and strategos.

Commentary

The letter forms on the reverse and the placement of the cross above the inscription show that this seal was struck by different dies than BZS.1951.31.5.438, even if the arrangement of letters is the same.

Four seals with this design belonging to a Sergios patrikios and strategos are in the collections of Dumbarton Oaks and the Harvard Art Museums. There are at least two variants, based on line breaks. The variant reverses are similar those in another series belonging to a Sergios patrikios and strategos, and so the two groups may belong to the same official (see, e.g., BZS.1955.1.2103; Zacos–Veglery, no. 996a).

A third type could possibly belong to the same officer (see, e.g., BZS.1958.106.4745; Zacos–Veglery, no. 2356). Zacos–Veglery reads the reverse as Sergios patrikios and strategos of Sicily, and possibly identifies the officer as a known strategos of Sicily under Leo III. The final line, however, is clearly γω, not γσικ.

 

 

Bibliography