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George spatharokandidatos and tourmarches of Spartari (tenth/eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Mounted warrior seated in a relaxed posture. He holds a spear horizontally with the point toward the back. He wears a large headpiece decorated with a row of pellets. The large saddle is attached in front and back with large leather strips, also decorated with pellets. No legend. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΓΕΟΡΓΗΟ,
ΣΠΑΘΑΡΟΚΑΔ
ΤΡΟΥΜΑΡΣ
ΣΠΑΡΤΑ
ΡΟΥ

Γεόργηος σπαθαροκανδιδᾶτος καὶ τρουμάρχης Σπάρταρου

Obverse

Mounted warrior seated in a relaxed posture. He holds a spear horizontally with the point toward the back. He wears a large headpiece decorated with a row of pellets. The large saddle is attached in front and back with large leather strips, also decorated with pellets. No legend. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

ΓΕΟΡΓΗΟ,
ΣΠΑΘΑΡΟΚΑΔ
ΤΡΟΥΜΑΡΣ
ΣΠΑΡΤΑ
ΡΟΥ

Γεόργηος σπαθαροκανδιδᾶτος καὶ τρουμάρχης Σπάρταρου

Accession number BZS.1958.106.5733
Diameter 24.0 mm; field: 19.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 2, no. 7.1a.

Translation

Γεόργηος σπαθαροκανδιδᾶτος καὶ τρουμάρχης Σπάρταρου.

George spatharokandidatos and tourmarches of Spartari.

Commentary

This seal is edited jointly with two others from the same boulloterion: BZS 1958.106.5734 and 1958.106.5735. There is extensive commentary on these seals, the otherwise unattested toponym Spartari, and the remarkable image of the horseman on the obverse in DO Seals 2, 7.1.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 2: South of the Balkans, the Islands, South of Asia Minor (Open in Zotero)
  • L’évolution de l’organisation administrative de l’empire byzantin au XIe siècle (1025–1118) (Open in Zotero)
  • A Collection of Dated Byzantine Lead Seals (Open in Zotero)
  • Griechische Paleographie (Open in Zotero)
  • Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)