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(Michael) Mavrikas, proedros and doux of the Boukellarioi (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. George holding a spear and a triangular shield. Two letters visible at left: ΓΕ: [Ὁ ἅγιος] Γε[ώργιος]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines, top line missing. A decoration below. Border of dots.

ΟΕΔΡ,S
.ΚΙΤΝ,R
ΛΡ,Τ
ΜΥΡΙΚ,

[Κύριε Βοήθει Μιχαὴλ πρ]οέδρ(ῳ) (καὶ) [δου]κὶ τῶν Βου[κε]λαρ(ίων) τῷ Μαυρικ(ᾷ)

Obverse

Bust of St. George holding a spear and a triangular shield. Two letters visible at left: ΓΕ: [Ὁ ἅγιος] Γε[ώργιος]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines, top line missing. A decoration below. Border of dots.

ΟΕΔΡ,S
.ΚΙΤΝ,R
ΛΡ,Τ
ΜΥΡΙΚ,

[Κύριε Βοήθει Μιχαὴλ πρ]οέδρ(ῳ) (καὶ) [δου]κὶ τῶν Βου[κε]λαρ(ίων) τῷ Μαυρικ(ᾷ)

Accession number BZS.1958.106.2995
Diameter 21.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 1.6.

Mentioned by Seibt, Bleisiegel, 170.

Translation

Κύριε Βοήθει Μιχαὴλ προέδρῳ καὶ δουκὶ τῶν Βουκελαρίων τῷ Μαυρικᾷ.

Lord, help Michael Mavrikas, proedros and doux of the Boukellarioi.

Commentary

The owner, Michael Mavrikas, who decorated his seals with a portrait of St. George, is known. See Skoulatos, Personnages, 196-198; Seibt, Bleisiegel, no. 58; DO Seals 1, no. 12.5 and DO Seals 2, no. 41.6. The present specimen must be dated to about 1076, when Michael Mavrikas was living in the governor’s palace of Pontoherakleia (of the theme of Boukellarioi) and was visited by Alexios Komnenos. See Bryennios (Gautier), 197-199. The honorific title could as well be πρωτοπροέδρῳ.

Bibliography

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  • Les personnages byzantins de l’Alexiade: Analyse prosopographique et synthèse (Open in Zotero)
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