N. imperial spatharios and paraphylax of Amorion (seventh/eighth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (indeterminate type). In the quarters: ..Σ.|ΔΛ. No border visible.
Κύριε or Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of at least six lines. No border visible.
Β /ΣΠ.
ΠΡΦΥ
ΛΚΙΤ
ΜΡΙ
.Υ
.. βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ παραφύλακι τοῦ Ἀμωρίου
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (indeterminate type). In the quarters: ..Σ.|ΔΛ. No border visible.
Κύριε or Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of at least six lines. No border visible.
Β /ΣΠ.
ΠΡΦΥ
ΛΚΙΤ
ΜΡΙ
.Υ
.. βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ παραφύλακι τοῦ Ἀμωρίου
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.5103 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 20.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 88.3a. |
Translation
Κύριε or Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ ... βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ παραφύλακι τοῦ Ἀμωρίου.
Lord or Mother of God, help your servant N., imperial spatharios and paraphylax of Amorion.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient
- Molivdovuly Grecheskogo Vostoka
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin, vol. 5, L’Église
- Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. 1
- Galatien und Lykaonien
- Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. 2
- Kleinasiatische Ortsnamen
- Die Städte Kleinasiens im 7. und 8. Jahrhundert
Commentary
Lettering is irregular and of very poor quality. The reading of this seal is much aided with reference to its counterpart from the same boulloterion: cf. BZS 1951.31.5.3164.
On Amorion and the seals of officials active there, see the commentary to BZS 1955.1.1528.