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Michael imperial cleric, chartoularios of the oikonomos of the Great Church, and kourator . . . ? (ninth/tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Cross mounted on ball above three steps. Circular inscription beginning at 7 o'clock.

κυριεοηθειτσδουλ

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of at least six lines. Border of dots.

μιχα
κλιρικχαρ
τ,τ,οικ,τ,μεγε
κκλισ,Sκ
τ,παρακ
...

Μιχα(ὴλ) β(ασιλικῷ) κλιρικ(ῷ), χαρτ(ουλαρίῳ) τ(οῦ) οἰκ(ονόμου) τ(ής) Μεγ(άλης) Ἐκκλισ(ίας), (καὶ) κου[ρ(άτορι)] τ(οῦ) or τ(ῷ) . . .

Obverse

Cross mounted on ball above three steps. Circular inscription beginning at 7 o'clock.

κυριεοηθειτσδουλ

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of at least six lines. Border of dots.

μιχα
κλιρικχαρ
τ,τ,οικ,τ,μεγε
κκλισ,Sκ
τ,παρακ
...

Μιχα(ὴλ) β(ασιλικῷ) κλιρικ(ῷ), χαρτ(ουλαρίῳ) τ(οῦ) οἰκ(ονόμου) τ(ής) Μεγ(άλης) Ἐκκλισ(ίας), (καὶ) κου[ρ(άτορι)] τ(οῦ) or τ(ῷ) . . .

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4918
Diameter 22.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 42.33a; Laurent, Corpus 5.3: no. 1643.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ βασιλικῷ κλιρικῷ, χαρτουλαρίῳ τοῦ οἰκονόμου τής Μεγάλης Ἐκκλισίας, καὶ κουράτορι τοῦ/τῷ . . .

Lord, help your servant Michael imperial cleric, chartoularios of the oikonomos of the Great Church, and kourator . . .

Commentary

Laurent has suggested that the final two lines of the reverse are to be read: κουράτορι τοῦ παρακοιμωμένου. It is more likely that Michael was the kourator of a domain.

The M on the final line of the reverse is far from certain.

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)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)