★ Extremely RARE, apparently Unpublished!! A seal of high historical importance! ★

Byzantine seal of Theodoros Kardamalos protospatharios and imperial notarios of the Opsikion
(ca 11th cent.)
A seal of high historical importance!

Obverse: Inscription in 5 lines between decorative patterns, KERΟ/ΗΘΕΙΤΩ/CΩΔΟΥ[ΛΩ]/ΘΕΩΔ[Ω]/Ρ, = Κύριε, βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Θεοδώρῳ (Lord, help your servant Theodoros), dotted border.

Reverse: Inscription in 5 lines between decorative patterns, Α´CΠΑΘ,/SR,ΝΟΤ,Ρ,/ΤΟΥΟΨΙΚ,/ΤΩΚΑΡΔ[Α]/ΜΑΛΩ = πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ βασιλικῷ νοταρίῳ tοῦ Ὀψικίου τῷ Καρδαμάλῳ, dotted border.

Most probably unpublished seal! The owner of the present seal Theodore Kardamalos was in charge of the Opsician Theme (Greek: θέμα Ὀψικίου, thema Opsikiou) or simply Opsikion (Greek: [θέμα] Ὀψίκιον, from Latin: Obsequium) a Byzantine theme (a military-civilian province) located in northwestern Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Created from the imperial retinue army, the Opsikion was the largest and most prestigious of the early themes, being located closest to Constantinople. Involved in several revolts in the 8th century, it was split in three after ca. 750, and lost its former pre-eminence. It survived as a middle-tier theme until after the Fourth Crusade.

Condition: Very Fine

Weight: 6.5 gr
Diameter: 21 mm