Seal of Balantios, anthypatos patrikios, imperial protospatharios et strategos of the Lykandosshow empty fields
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    SigiDoc ID: s-HmhRV4

    Artifact

    Type
    Seal
    Matrix
    SigiDoc ID: m-KchuSd

    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
    Slightly off-centre strike; deep indentation at the upper opening of the channel, damaging the iconography on the obverse and the first two lines on the reverse; trimmed around the edge.

    Dating

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

    History

    Category
    Provincial administration
    Issuer
    Balantios
    Milieu: Military
    Gender: Male
    Place of origin
    Lykandos
    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 824 (olim 924)
    Acquisition
    ―
    Previous locations
    ―
    Modern observations
    ―

    Obverse

    Language(s)
    Greek
    Layout of field
    Iconography with a circular invocative legend.
    Field dimensions (mm)
    ―
    Matrix
    ―
    Iconography
    Bust of Saint Nicholas, facing, wearing liturgical garments with two lozenges of pearls on the phelonion, in his usual attitude, blessing with his right hand and holding the Gospels with his left; label in columns on either side of the image.
    Decoration
    Border of dots; a crosslet precedes the circular legend.
    Epigraphy
    ―

    Reverse

    Language(s)
    Greek
    Layout of field
    Linear legend of 5 lines.
    Field dimensions (mm)
    ―
    Matrix
    ―
    Iconography
    ―
    Decoration
    Border of dots; a crosslet precedes the beginning of the legend, on the same line; after the legend, on a separate line, a lozenge of pearls flanked by two dashes.
    Epigraphy
    ―

    Images

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

    Edition

    Interpretive

    obv
    aὉ ἅγ(ιος) bNηκό(λαος)
    obv
    1Ἅγ(ιε) Νικόλ[αε βοήθει(?) τῷ(?) σῷ(?) δούλῳ(?)]
    rev
    2+Β[α]λαν-
    3τ(ίῳ) ἀν[θ]υ(πάτῳ) πατ-
    4ρηκ(ίῳ) β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ)
    5(καὶ) στρατηγ(ῷ)
    6Λικανδ(οῦ)

    Diplomatic

    obv
    aΟ||, bΝ|Η|Κ̣Ο̣
    obv
    1Γ,ΝΙΚΟΛ̣[...?...]
    rev
    2̣.ΛΝ
    3ΤˊΝ.Υ,ΠΤ
    4Ρ̣ΗˊˊˊΣΠΘˋ
    5Σ̣ΤΡΤΗΓˊ
    6ΛΙΝΔˊ
    7

    Legend and translation

    Ὁ ἅγιος Nηκόλαος. + Ἅγιε Νικόλαε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ (?) / + Βαλαντίῳ ἀνθυπάτῳ πατρηκίῳ, βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Λικανδοῦ.

    Saint Nicolas. Saint Nicolas protège ton serviteur (?) Balantios, anthypatos patrice, protospathaire impérial et stratège du Lykandos.

    References

    Edition(s)
    Prigent, 1994, 80.
    Parallel(s)
    No parallels known
    Further references
    Le sceau IFEB 924, aujourd'hui IFEB 824, est mentionné dans Laurent, Corpus, 5.2, p. 265 (sans identification précise, mais simplement comme sceau inédit) et dans BBÖ, 1, p. 298 et note 5.