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Constantine imperial strator and archon of Thessalonica (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Cross on three steps with fleurons rising from base (to transverse bar). Circular inscription between two borders of dots.

ΚΕΤΣΔΟΥΛΟ

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλο

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΚΝ
ΣΤΝΤ,ˋ
ΣΤΤ
ΡΧΘΕΣ
ΛΟˊ

Κωνσταντίνῳ βασιλικῷ στράτορι καὶ ἄρχοντι Θεσσαλονίκης

Obverse

Cross on three steps with fleurons rising from base (to transverse bar). Circular inscription between two borders of dots.

ΚΕΤΣΔΟΥΛΟ

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλο

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΚΝ
ΣΤΝΤ,ˋ
ΣΤΤ
ΡΧΘΕΣ
ΛΟˊ

Κωνσταντίνῳ βασιλικῷ στράτορι καὶ ἄρχοντι Θεσσαλονίκης

Accession number BZS.1958.106.3611
Diameter 23.0 mm; field: 15.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 18.13.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλο Κωνσταντίνῳ βασιλικῷ στράτορι καὶ ἄρχοντι Θεσσαλονίκης.

Lord, help your servant Constantine imperial strator and archon of Thessaloniki.

Commentary

Mordtmann (RA [1879] 195) published a seal (from a different boulloterion) with a patriarchal cross (fleurons absent) on the obverse, but with the same name and titles inscribed on the reverse. He dated the bulla to the ninth century.

Bibliography

  • 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 (Open in Zotero)
  • Plombs byzantins de la Grèce et du Péleponnèse (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
  • Silk Trade and Production in Byzantium from the Sixth to the Ninth Century: The Seals of Kommerkiarioi (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantinische Bleisiegel in Berlin (West) (Open in Zotero)
  • Le kommerkion d’Abydos, Thessalonique et le commerce bulgare du 9e siècle (Open in Zotero)
  • Recherches sur les douanes à Byzance: L’octava, le "kommerkion" et les commerciares (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Les plus anciens recueils des miracles de Saint Démétrius et la pénétration des Slaves dans les Balkans (Open in Zotero)
  • L’éparque de Thessalonique: les origines d'une institution administrative (VIIIe-IXe siècles) (Open in Zotero)