John imperial spatharios and archon of Raidestos (tenth century)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.3502 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 24 mm |
| Field diameter | 18 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 59.1. |
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on four steps; on either side, fleuron (up to first arm). Along border of dots, inscription.
ΚΕΟΗΘΗΤΣΔΛ,
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
.ΙΝ
.ΣΠΘ.
ΡΧΟΝΡ
ΕΔΕΣΤΟ
Υ
Ἰωάννης βασιλικὸς σπαθάριος καὶ ἄρχον Ῥεδεστοῦ
Translation
Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ. Ἰωάννης βασιλικὸς σπαθάριος καὶ ἄρχον Ῥεδεστοῦ.
Lord, help your servant. John imperial spatharios and archon of Raidestos.
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.3502 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 24 mm |
| Field diameter | 18 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 59.1. |
Bibliography
- History of the Byzantine State
- La Thrace orientale et la Mer Noire: Géographie ecclésiastique et prosopographie (VIIIe-XIIe siècles)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin, vol. 5, L’Église
- Notitiae Episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae
- 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
Commentary
Modern Rodostos (Tekirdağ), located on the Sea of Marmara. Similar to its sister city of Panidos, Raidestos had its own archon in the tenth century. Also like Panidos, Raidestos was a center of the wheat trade, as illustrated by the notorious "phoundax of Raidestos," a monopoly over the wheat trade created by Emperor Michael VII. The commercial character of the city explains why it had so many tax collectors (dioiketai).