Theodotos spatharios and doux of Calabria (eighth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (of indeterminate type); visible in the lower quarters: ΔΛ. Wreath border.
Θεοτόκε or Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription in five lines. Indeterminate border.
...
δοτου
σΠ ́Sδ
κ/κλ
....
[Θεο]δότου σπαθ(αρίου) (καὶ) δουκ(ὸς) Καλα[βρίας]
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (of indeterminate type); visible in the lower quarters: ΔΛ. Wreath border.
Θεοτόκε or Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription in five lines. Indeterminate border.
...
δοτου
σΠ ́Sδ
κ/κλ
....
[Θεο]δότου σπαθ(αρίου) (καὶ) δουκ(ὸς) Καλα[βρίας]
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.3416 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 27.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 4.7. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε or Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοδότου σπαθαρίου καὶ δουκὸς Καλαβρίας.
Theotokos or Lord, help your servant Theodotos spatharios and doux of Calabria.
Bibliography
- Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. 1
- Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin
- Catalogue of Seals in the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles
- Eine byzantinische Beamtenurkunde aus Dubrovnik
Commentary
We note that the letter Θ in line 3 of the reverse is above the letter Π. Two other specimens, one in the British Museum (Birch, 15), and the other published by Salinas and referred to in Sig., 220, belonged to a Theodotos imperial protospatharios and doux of Calabria; they are similar to the DO specimen and may refer to the same person at a later stage of his career.