Seal of Niketas, protospatharios and epi tou koitonosshow empty fields
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    SigiDoc ID: s-TiA8PO

    Artifact

    Type
    Seal
    Matrix
    SigiDoc ID: m-7UFzXD

    Physical description

    Medium
    Original impression
    Material
    Lead
    Shape
    Round
    Dimensions (mm)
    Diam. 19
    Weight (g)
    ―
    Channel orientation (clock)
    ―
    Axis (clock)
    ―
    Overstrike orientation (clock)
    ―
    Execution
    Struck
    Countermark
    ―
    Condition
    Heavily notched and chipped at the upper opening of the channel, struck off-center toward the top and bulging at the base. The depiction on the obverse is partially worn.

    Dating

    Date
    11th C., last third
    Internal date
    ―
    Dating criteria
    Titulature, Epigraphy
    Alternative date
    ―

    History

    Category
    Central administration
    Issuer
    Niketas
    Milieu: Civil
    Gender: Male
    Place of origin
    ―
    Find place
    ―
    Find date
    ―
    Find circumstances
    ―
    Modern location
    Paris (France)
    Institution and repository
    Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
    Collection and inventory
    Henri Seyrig Collection 661
    Acquisition

    Donation by Henri Seyrig.

    Previous locations
    ―
    Modern observations
    ―

    Obverse

    Language(s)
    Greek
    Layout of field
    Iconography
    Field dimensions (mm)
    Diam. 16
    Matrix
    ―
    Iconography
    Bust of the Virgin holding the Child on her left arm.
    Decoration
    Border of dots.
    Epigraphy
    ―

    Reverse

    Language(s)
    Greek
    Layout of field
    Legend of 6 lines.
    Field dimensions (mm)
    Diam. 16
    Matrix
    ―
    Iconography
    ―
    Decoration
    Border of dots; cross at the beginning of the legend.
    Epigraphy
    ―

    Images

    Seyrig 13 (Inv. 661), obverse.
    Seyrig 13 (Inv. 661), reverse.

    Edition

    Interpretive

    obv
    aΜή(τη)ρ bΘ(εο)ῦ
    rev
    1[Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει)]
    2τῷ σῷ δ[ού(λῳ)]
    3Νικήτᾳ [(πρωτο)-]
    4σπαθαρί(ῳ) (καὶ)
    5ἐπὶ τοῦ κοι-
    6τῶνος

    Diplomatic

    obv
    a̣̅ bΘ̅Υ̅
    rev
    1....
    2ΤΣ.
    3Νικητα.
    4σπαθαριϗ
    5επιτκοι
    6τνοσ

    Legend and translation

    Μήτηρ Θεοῦ / + Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νηκίτα πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ κοιτῶνος.

    Mother of God. / Theotokos aid your servant Niketas, protospatharios and epi tou koitonos.

    References

    Edition(s)
    Biliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, Cheynet, Morrisson, Seibt, coll. Seyrig, 1991, 13.
    Parallel(s)
    No parallels known
    Further references
    No further references

    Commentary

    L'épi tou koitônos était un eunuque préposé à la chambre impériale sous les ordres du parakoimomène [1].

    Footnotes

    [1]. Oikonomides, 1972, p. 301, 305.