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Iezid hypatos and imperial spatharios (eighth century)

 
 

Obverse

In the center, a cruciform monogram: Κύριε βοήθει. In the corners: ιεζιδ : Ἰεζίδ. Along the circumference, within concentric borders of dots, a circular inscription beginning with a cross at twelve o'clock:

εελμικεεκτνεχθρνμου

Κύριε βοήθει Ἰεζὶδ. ἐξελοῦ μαι, Κύριε, ἐκ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a cross between fleurons above and below. Border of dots.

  
υπτ
κιΒσι
λικσπ
θρι
  

ὑπάτῳ καὶ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ

Obverse

In the center, a cruciform monogram: Κύριε βοήθει. In the corners: ιεζιδ : Ἰεζίδ. Along the circumference, within concentric borders of dots, a circular inscription beginning with a cross at twelve o'clock:

εελμικεεκτνεχθρνμου

Κύριε βοήθει Ἰεζὶδ. ἐξελοῦ μαι, Κύριε, ἐκ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a cross between fleurons above and below. Border of dots.

  
υπτ
κιΒσι
λικσπ
θρι
  

ὑπάτῳ καὶ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ

Accession number BZS.1958.106.5485
Diameter 31.0 mm
Previous Editions

J. Glynias, "Prayerful iconoclasts: Psalm Seals and Elite Formation in the First Iconoclast Era (726–750)," DOP 71 (2017), no. 6b (listing a previous edition and further references).

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει Ἰεζὶδ ὑπάτῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ. ἐξελοῦ μαι, Κύριε, ἐκ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου.

Lord, help Iezid hypatos (and) imperial spatharios. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies.

Commentary

The inscription on the obverse quotes Psalm 142: 9. Note that the spelling Iezid follows the Greek but the name can also be rendered as Yezid.

Bibliography