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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:

+κεRοηθειτσυλ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines, a row of eight pellets below. No visible border.

+πλ
τιν,Rˊˊσπ
θˊστρ
τηγτ
ρντ 

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:

+κεRοηθειτσυλ

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines, a row of eight pellets below. No visible border.

+πλ
τιν,Rˊˊσπ
θˊστρ
τηγτ
ρντ 

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.

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.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
  • Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
  • L’organisation de la frontière orientale de Byzance aux Xe-XIe siècles et Le Taktikon de l’Escorial (Open in Zotero)
  • Kappadokien (Kappadokia, Charsianon, Sebasteia und Lykandos) (Open in Zotero)
  • Eastern Turkey: An Architectural and Archaeological Survey (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals (Open in Zotero)