★ A very interesting and historically important seal! ★

Byzantine lead seal of Philaretos Brachames, domestikos of the Scholai of the East and protosebastos (11th cent.)

Obverse: St. Theodore standing facing, nimbate, wearing military dress, holding spear in right hand, resting left on a sword, missing the columnar inscription: O (ΑΓΙΟC) ΘΕΟ-[Δ]ΩΡ[ΟC] = Ὁ ἅγιος Θεόδωρος (Saint Theodore), all within dotted border.

Reverse: Inscription in 6 lines, between decorative patterns, ΔΟΜΕC/[Τ]ΙΚΟΝΕΩ/ΑCΑΘΛΗΤΑ/[CΚ]ΕΠΟΙ(C)ΠΡΩ/[ΤΟ]ΝCΕRΑCΤ/[Ο]ΝΦΙΛΑΡΕ/ΤΟΝΒΡΑΧ(ΑΜΗΝ) = Δομέστικον Ἐῴας, Ἀθλητά, σκέποις, πρωτο{ν}σέβαστον Φιλάρετον Βραχάμην (The domestikos of East, you might, oh martyr [Theodore] protect, protosebastos Philaretos Brachames), all within dotted border.

It is to note that the legend on reverse consists of two consecutive metric (iambic) twelve-syllable verses.
For the person and life of Philaretos Brachamios (Varazhnuni), Romanos IV’s strategos, doux and domestikos, see lot No. 974.

A very interesting and historically important seal!

The present seal is an exact parallel of the previous lot no. 976, from the same exactly boulloterion.

Condition: Very Fine

Weight: 19.40 gr
Diameter: 34 mm