Kosmas stratelates and general kommerkiarios of First and Second Cappadocia (687/8)
Obverse
An emperor, no doubt Justinian II, standing frontally; details obscure. Indiction signs on either side: ι-α. Circular inscription within an incuse border, beginning at right:
κοσμστρτιλτSγενι..
Κοσμᾶ στρατιλάτου (καὶ) γενι[κοῦ]
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines. Incuse border.
κομ
μερκιρ
ιουποθ
ηκησˊS
Βˊκππ
δοκι
σ
κομμερκιαρίου ἀποθήκης αˊ (καὶ) βˊ Καππαδοκίας
Obverse
An emperor, no doubt Justinian II, standing frontally; details obscure. Indiction signs on either side: ι-α. Circular inscription within an incuse border, beginning at right:
κοσμστρτιλτSγενι..
Κοσμᾶ στρατιλάτου (καὶ) γενι[κοῦ]
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines. Incuse border.
κομ
μερκιρ
ιουποθ
ηκησˊS
Βˊκππ
δοκι
σ
κομμερκιαρίου ἀποθήκης αˊ (καὶ) βˊ Καππαδοκίας
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.656 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 34.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 43.7a. Zacos-Veglery, no. 160. |
Translation
Ἰνδικτιὼν αˊ. Κοσμᾶ στρατιλάτου καὶ γενικοῦ κομμερκιαρίου ἀποθήκης αˊ καὶ βˊ Καππαδοκίας.
Indiction 1. Kosmas, stratelates and general kommerkiarios of the First and Second Cappadocia.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, volume 4: The East
- Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. 1
- De Administrando Imperio
- Ermitažnye pečati Filareta Vrahamija
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles
- Kappadokien (Kappadokia, Charsianon, Sebasteia und Lykandos)
- Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Ἐρευνες πάνω στην γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των Βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Μικράς Ασίας
Commentary
This seal and BZS.1958.106.671 represent two parts of the same seal; the reading combines the two separated halves.
The date and the identity of the emperor have been securely established by Zacos-Veglery thanks to the career of Kosmas. The same Kosmas exercised a second mandate over the two Cappadocias in 690/691. Another seal of the same person was published by J.-C. Cheynet in Spink Auction 127 (7 October 1998), no. 12.