★ The Byzantine road system and postal service ★

Basileios, imperial protospatharios, epi tou oikeiakon and chartoularios of the dromos of Anatolikon, 2nd half of 10th century. Seal (Lead, 23 mm, 5.15 g, 1 h). +KЄ ROHΘЄI TⲰ CⲰ Δ૪Λ, - IC - XC - NH - KA Large patriarchal cross on steps, with floral ornaments springing from the base and globes at the top and below, and at the extremities of the larger crossbar. Rev. +RACI/ΛIⲰ R’A’CΠA/Θ, S ЄΠI T, VKI/AK, S XAPT૪Λ / T૪ ΔPOM, T, / ANAT, in six lines. Cf. DO Seals IV, 22.9 = Laurent, Corpus II,463 (for a seal of perhaps the same individual, but associated to the dromos of Armeniakon). An attractively designed seal of an interesting Byzantine official. Minor breaks along the channel, otherwise, very fine.

The department of the dromos was mainly responsible for the road system and the postal service. Aside from the central dromos, operating from the capital, there were several additional provincial "dromoi". Our seal's owner was an official of the dromos of the Anatolikon theme.