Palatinos imperial protospatharios and strategos of Taranta (tenth century)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross (X at the lower crossbar) on two steps, with fleurons rising from the base beyond the upper crossbar. Circular inscription within a border of dots:
+κεRοηθειτσυλ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, a row of eight pellets below. No visible border.
+πλ
τιν,Rˊˊσπ
θˊστρ
τηγτ
ρντ
Παλατίν(ῳ) β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) στρατηγ(ῷ) Τάραντα(ς)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross (X at the lower crossbar) on two steps, with fleurons rising from the base beyond the upper crossbar. Circular inscription within a border of dots:
+κεRοηθειτσυλ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, a row of eight pellets below. No visible border.
+πλ
τιν,Rˊˊσπ
θˊστρ
τηγτ
ρντ
Παλατίν(ῳ) β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) στρατηγ(ῷ) Τάραντα(ς)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.1645 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 23.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 70.1. Mentioned in Listes, 359. A photograph of this seal was published in N. Oikonomides, Byzantine Lead Seals (Washington D.C., 1985), no. 78. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Παλατίνῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Τάραντας.
Lord, help your servant Palatinos, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Taranta.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, volume 4: The East
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles
- L’organisation de la frontière orientale de Byzance aux Xe-XIe siècles et le Taktikon de l’Escorial
- Kappadokien (Kappadokia, Charsianon, Sebasteia und Lykandos)
- Eastern Turkey: An Architectural and Archaeological Survey
- Byzantine Lead Seals
Commentary
The theme of Taranta, which took its name from a fortress situated by the Tohma-su, 4 km northwest of the modern Derende (80 km northwest of Melitene), is mentioned in the Escorial Taktikon (Listes, 267 and 359; “Organisation,” 290). Hild-Restle, Kappadokien, 290–91; Sinclair II, 499ff.