Nikephoros, imperial notarios of the Phylax (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St. Theodore holding a spear and a round shield decorated with a circle of pellets. Inscription in two columns: |ΘΕ|Ο|Ρ|Ο : Ὁ ἅ(γιος) [Θ]ε[ό]δ[ωρος]. Border of dots.
Obverse
Bust of St. Theodore holding a spear and a round shield decorated with a circle of pellets. Inscription in two columns: |ΘΕ|Ο|Ρ|Ο : Ὁ ἅ(γιος) [Θ]ε[ό]δ[ωρος]. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots
Κ̅Ε̅,
ΝΙΚΗΦΟ
Ρ,̅ΝΟΤΑ
Ρ,ΤΦΥ
ΛΑΚˊ
Κύριε βοήθει Νικηφόρῳ βασιλικῷ νοταρίῳ τοῦ Φύλακος
Accession number | BZS.1958.106.2933 |
---|---|
Diameter | 26.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 5, no. 27.3; Laurent, Corpus 2: no. 674 |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Νικηφόρῳ βασιλικῷ νοταρίῳ τοῦ Φύλακος.
Lord, help Nikephoros, imperial notarios of the Phylax.
Bibliography
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The Phylax was a depository within the confines of the great palace where various imperial treasures were safeguarded (Theophanes Cont., 253.7–8, 255.15–16). It abutted the Chrysotriklinos (see Laurent, Corpus 2:346). As a treasury it was independent of the fisc. Hendy (Monetary Economy, 311) is correct that the eidikon and the Phylax appear to be similar treasuries, but at least in the eleventh century, as our seals testify to, the Phylas had its own personnel, and by extension, a separate identity.