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Michael imperial spatharios and dioketes of Stratonikeia (ninth/tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross (X at both crossings) on four steps with fleurons extending laterally into the field from the base. In the quarters: ΙΣ̅ΧΣ̅|ΚΑ: Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς νηκᾷ. Circular inscription along a border of dots. Border of dots.

ΚΕΟΗΘΕΙΤΩΣΩΔΟΥΛΩ

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΜΙΧ
ΗΛˊΣΠΘ,
ΚΕΔΗΟΙΚΗ
ΤΗΣΤΡΤΟ
ΝΙΚΗ..

Μιχαὴλ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ κὲ δηοικητῇ Στρατονικήας

Obverse

Patriarchal cross (X at both crossings) on four steps with fleurons extending laterally into the field from the base. In the quarters: ΙΣ̅ΧΣ̅|ΚΑ: Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς νηκᾷ. Circular inscription along a border of dots. Border of dots.

ΚΕΟΗΘΕΙΤΩΣΩΔΟΥΛΩ

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΜΙΧ
ΗΛˊΣΠΘ,
ΚΕΔΗΟΙΚΗ
ΤΗΣΤΡΤΟ
ΝΙΚΗ..

Μιχαὴλ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ κὲ δηοικητῇ Στρατονικήας

Accession number BZS.1958.106.5196
Diameter 24.0 mm; field: 22.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 3, no. 108.1.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ κὲ δηοικητῇ Στρατονικήας.

Lord, help your servant Michael, imperial spatharios and dioiketes of Stratonikeia.

Commentary

There are two bishoprics named Stratonikeia, one suffragan of Sardeis of Lydia and one suffragan of Stauropolis of Karia (cf. Darrouzès, Notitiae, no. 1, lines 167, 298; no. 13, lines 119, 313). The first, also called Κάλαμος, is identified with the ruins of Sidelik, northeast of Kirkağac, in the upper Kaïkos valley (Laurent, Corpus V/1, 267). The second is identified with Eskihisar, to the west of the Marsyas river (RE, 2. Reihe, IV A [1932] 322-25).

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 (Open in Zotero)
  • Documents de sigillographie byzantine: La collection C. Orghidan (Open in Zotero)
  • Notitiae Episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae (Open in Zotero)
  • Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
  • Les sceaux byzantins de la Collection Henri Seyrig (Open in Zotero)