Strategios imperial spatharios and paraphylax of Nicaea (ninth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type VIII). In the quarters: ΤΣ|ΔΛ. Wreath border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
+ΣΤΡΤ
ΗΓΙΣΠ
ΘΠΡΦ
ΥΛ/ΝΙΚΕ
Στρατηγίῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) παραφύλ(ακι) Νικέα(ς)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type VIII). In the quarters: ΤΣ|ΔΛ. Wreath border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
+ΣΤΡΤ
ΗΓΙΣΠ
ΘΠΡΦ
ΥΛ/ΝΙΚΕ
Στρατηγίῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) παραφύλ(ακι) Νικέα(ς)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.2929 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 27.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 59.4. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Στρατηγίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ παραφύλακι Νικέας.
Mother of God, help your servant Strategios, imperial spatharios and paraphylax of Nicaea.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- De Thematibus (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- La géographie ecclésiastique de l’empire byzantin, vol. 2, Les églises et les monastères des grands centres byzantins (Open in Zotero)
- Die Städte Kleinasiens im 7. und 8. Jahrhundert (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The title of paraphylax seems to designate the military commander of a fortified city, often, but not necessarily, a port. See Listes, 343; Zacos-Veglery, 1201.