★ Extremely rare seal of Theodoros Marchapsabos ★

BYZANTINE SEALS, Provincial Administration. Theodoros Marchapsabos, Hypatos und Strategos of Tarsos, circa 11th-12th century. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 33 mm, 23.82 g, 11 h), Tarsos, Theodoros Marchapsabos, Hypatos und Strategos of Tarsos. H O/ΔH/ΓI-T/PI/A MHP-ΘOY The Virgin Hodegetria, nimbate and wearing a chiton and a metaphorion, the hem of which hangs down from her left arm, standing three quarters facing and holding, on her left arm with the support of her right hand, the infant Christ, with cross nimbus, chiton and himation, his right hand extended in benediction; dotted border. Rev. + / ΘΚΕ ΒΘ / ΤΩ CΩ ΔΩ/ ΘΕΟΔΟΡΩ Υ/ΠΑΤ S CTPA/THΓΩ ΤΑΡ/CΟΥ ΤΩ MAP/XA ΩΑR "Theodoros, hypatos, patrikos & strategos of Tarsos, turmarch Bardas" in eight lines within round dotted border. Sode, Berlin, 385 ( from the same boulloterion ). Probably the same person as the issuer of the Seibt-Zarnitz 4.1.2. Extremely rare iconographic seal from an imperial officer of Tarsos in Cilicia. Very fine.

The family name Marchapsabo is without any doubt of Syrian origin (Mar Habšabba).