Seal of Prokopios, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Longobardiashow empty fields
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    SigiDoc ID: s-EASvxx

    Artifact

    Type
    Seal
    Matrix
    SigiDoc ID: m-pL0Yuc

    Physical description

    Medium
    Original impression
    Material
    Lead
    Shape
    Round
    Dimensions (mm)
    Diam. 20
    Weight (g)
    ―
    Channel orientation (clock)
    ―
    Axis (clock)
    ―
    Overstrike orientation (clock)
    ―
    Execution
    Struck
    Countermark
    ―
    Condition
    In a poor state of conservation: highly corroded, particularly on the obverse, leaving only the head of the figure visible, and trimmed around the edges; deep indentations at the channel openings, particularly at the upper opening, with loss of part of the support, resulting in the disappearance of the end of three of the four remaining lines of the legend on the reverse, where the first line is entirely lost.

    Dating

    Date
    10th C., second half.
    Internal date
    ―
    Dating criteria
    Historical context, Titulature, Parallel
    Alternative date
    ―

    History

    Category
    Provincial administration
    Issuer
    Prokopios (PmbZ: 26770)
    Milieu: Military
    Gender: Male
    Place of origin
    Longobardia
    Find place
    ―
    Find date
    ―
    Find circumstances
    ―
    Modern location
    Paris (France)
    Institution and repository
    Institut Catholique de Paris, Institut Français d’Études Byzantines
    Collection and inventory
    IFEB 717 (olim 810)
    Acquisition
    ―
    Previous locations
    ―
    Modern observations
    ―

    Obverse

    Language(s)
    Greek
    Layout of field
    Iconography with, according to the seal in Athens, a circular invocative legend and epigraph in columns on either side of the image.
    Field dimensions (mm)
    ―
    Matrix
    ―
    Iconography
    The state of preservation of the seal only makes it possible to see the head of a beardless saint with curly hair, depicted in bust form: the piece from Athens makes it possible to identify him as saint Procopius.
    Decoration
    According to the parallel seal and the obverse of our piece, circle of dots.
    Epigraphy
    ―

    Reverse

    Language(s)
    Greek
    Layout of field
    Linear legend of 5 lines, of which the first one is lost.
    Field dimensions (mm)
    ―
    Matrix
    ―
    Iconography
    ―
    Decoration
    Circle of dots very partially preserved.
    Epigraphy
    ―

    Images

    Digital image of the obverse.
    Digital image of the reverse.

    Edition

    Interpretive

    obv
    aὉ ἅ(γιος) Προ bκόπ(ιος)
    obv
    1+Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
    rev
    2Προκοπ(ίῳ)
    3β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπ[αθ(αρίῳ)]
    4(καὶ) στρατ[ηγ(ῷ)]
    5Λαγου[β-]
    6αρδίας

    Diplomatic

    obv
    a.|..|. b.|.|.
    obv
    1..................
    rev
    2.......
    3ˊˊΣΠ..
    4ΣΤΡΤ̣..
    5ΛΓΟΥ̣.
    6ΡΔΙ̣Σ

    Apparatus

    5-6: Λαγου[β]|αρδίας: [Λ]αγοβα|ρδίας in Koltsida-Makri, coll. Athens, 1996, 52 .
    2-6: La distribution des lettres entre les lignes proposées ici n’est pas exactement la même que celle présente dans l’édition de la pièce d’Athènes.

    Legend and translation

    Ὁ ἅγιος Προκόπιος. + Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ / Προκοπίῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Λαγουβαρδίας.

    Saint Prokopios. Lord aid your servant Prokopios, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Longobardia.

    References

    Edition(s)
    Unpublished
    Parallel(s)
    Collection Orphanidis-Nikolaidis, Musée Numismatique d'Athènes, 423 (si ce sceau n'est pas un parallèle, il est en tout cas très proche): Koltsida-Makri, coll. Athens, 1996, 52.
    Further references
    No further references