John protospatharios, judge of the Hippodrome and basilikos of Melitene and of the Armenian themes (tenth/eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of a St. George beardless; gestures indistinct. Remains of an inscription on left: |γ|ε-... : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γε[ώργιος]. Remains of a circular inscription within a border of dots:
.εRοηθ
[Κ(ύρι)]ε βοήθ[ει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
– –
.ω̅α̅σπαθ,
.ριτ,επ,τιπ
.οδρ,R̅μελ.τ
.τωναρμε
.ικωνθ.
– –
[Ἰ]ω(άννῃ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ), [κ]ριτ(ῇ) ἐπ(ὶ) τοῦ Ἱπ[π]οδρ(όμου), β(ασιλικῷ) Μελ[ι]τ(ηνῆς) [(καὶ)] τῶν Ἀρμε[ν]ικῶν θ[εμ(άτων)]
Obverse
Bust of a St. George beardless; gestures indistinct. Remains of an inscription on left: |γ|ε-... : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γε[ώργιος]. Remains of a circular inscription within a border of dots:
.εRοηθ
[Κ(ύρι)]ε βοήθ[ει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
– –
.ω̅α̅σπαθ,
.ριτ,επ,τιπ
.οδρ,R̅μελ.τ
.τωναρμε
.ικωνθ.
– –
[Ἰ]ω(άννῃ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ), [κ]ριτ(ῇ) ἐπ(ὶ) τοῦ Ἱπ[π]οδρ(όμου), β(ασιλικῷ) Μελ[ι]τ(ηνῆς) [(καὶ)] τῶν Ἀρμε[ν]ικῶν θ[εμ(άτων)]
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.5326 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 26.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 56.2. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ, κριτῇ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἱπποδρόμου, βασιλικῷ Μελιτηνῆς καὶ τῶν Ἀρμενικῶν θεμάτων.
Lord, help your servant John, protospatharios, judge of the Hippodrome, basilikos of Melitene and of the Armenian themes.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 4: The East (Open in Zotero)
- Die byzantinische Armee im 10. und 11. Jahrhundert: Studien zur Organisation der Tagmata (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- L’organisation de la frontière orientale de Byzance aux Xe-XIe siècles et Le Taktikon de l’Escorial (Open in Zotero)
- Ἀρμενικὰ Θέματα als terminus technicus der byzantinischen Verwaltungsgeschichte des 11. Jahrhunderts (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
- The Land Legislation of the Macedonian Emperors (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
For another basilikos of Melitene, see BZS.1951.31.5.821 (linked to this entry). On the Armenian themes, see the commentary to BZS 1951.31.5.1152.