Byzantine Lead Seals Issued by State Officials in Ödemiş Archaeological Museum

This study examines nine Byzantine lead seals in the Ödemiş Archeology Museum, dated to 8 –11 centuries AD, which belong to central authorities in charge of military and financial affairs. Research on three of the seals have been recently published in an article about sicillographic materials in the Ödemiş collection. This article comprises of different suggestions and editing of the reading of the seals examined in the abovementioned article as well as analysis on the content of the six other unpublished seals in the Ödemiş collection.

initiative on these seals was undertaken by Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, and the preliminary report of this initiative was presented orally by the researcher of this article at the Dumbarton Oaks Institute as part of the "Numismatics and Sigillography Summer Program, 2011" 1 . This article examines nine seals in the museum collection that are dated to 8 th -11 th centuries and that belong to the Byzantine state officials. Research about six of these nine seals have not been published yet. Research on three of these seals was published by ErgŸn Laflõ and Werner Seibt in February 2020 2 ; we have suggestions and corrections in terms of reading some of these seals. Additionally, some unpublished seals, that Laflõ and Seibt only sufficed to provide the inventory numbers and dimensions, will be identified in this article.
In the Ödemiş Museum, there are three Byzantine lead seals which are still unidentified given their poor physical condition, and one lead blank. In the same museum, five seals from the Roman period which are made of lead 3 , one coin 4 and an amulet 5 have been identified. Research about six of the Byzantine seals were presented in the medieval symposium in 2018 6 . These are seals that are categorized as imperial, 7 personal 8 , ecclesiastical 9 , monogramatic 10 and initiative on these seals was undertaken by Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, and the preliminary report of this initiative was presented orally by the researcher of this article at the Dumbarton Oaks Institute as part of the "Numismatics and Sigillography Summer Program, 2011" 1 . This article examines nine seals in the museum collection that are dated to 8 th -11 th centuries and that belong to the Byzantine state officials. Research about six of these nine seals have not been published yet. Research on three of these seals was published by ErgŸn Laflõ and Werner Seibt in February 2020 2 ; we have suggestions and corrections in terms of reading some of these seals. Additionally, some unpublished seals, that Laflõ and Seibt only sufficed to provide the inventory numbers and dimensions, will be identified in this article.
In the Ödemiş Museum, there are three Byzantine lead seals which are still unidentified given their poor physical condition, and one lead blank. In the same museum, five seals from the Roman period which are made of lead 3 , one coin 4 and an amulet 5 have been identified. Research about six of the Byzantine seals were presented in the medieval symposium in 2018 6 . These are seals that are categorized as imperial, 7 personal 8 , ecclesiastical 9 , monogramatic 10 and * Assoc. Prof., Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Sciences and Letters, Department of Archeology. E-mail: zsencan@hotmail.com 1 Sencan Altõnoluk, ÒPreliminary Catalogue of Byzantine Coins and Seals in the Collection of the Ödemiş Museum", Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Numismatics and Sigillography Summer Program, 25 July 2011, Washington DC. 2 Ergün Laflõ and Werner Seibt, ÒSeven Byzantine Lead Seals from the Museum of Ödemiş in Western Anatolia", Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies 44/1, Cambridge 2020, 21-39. 3 Inv. nos. 2053, 2633, 2634, 2928, 2884. 4 Inv. no. 2623 ErgŸn Laflõ and Werner Seibt showed this amulet among the Byzantine lead seals at the Ödemiş Museum: Laflõ, The Museum of Ödemiş, 34. This amulet with the Abraxas depiction (2 nd century AD) was published by the current researcher: Sencan Altõnoluk, ÒBatõ AnadoluÕdan İki tarihlenen, askeri ve mali işlerle ilgili merkezi yöneticilere ait dokuz adet Bizans kurşun mŸhrŸ ele alõnmaktadõr. MŸhŸrlerden ŸçŸ kõsa bir sŸre šnce, …demiş Arkeoloji Müzesi koleksiyonundaki sicillografik malzemeler içeren bir makalede yayõmlanmõştõr. Bu makaledeki bazõ mŸhŸrlerin okunuşuyla ilgili farklõ šneri ve düzeltmeler ile Ödemiş Müzesi'ndeki diğer yayõmlanmamõş altõ adet Bizans kurşun mühürü üzerine çözümlemeler makalemizin içeriğini oluşturmaktadõr. Anahtar Kelimeler: Bizans, Thrakesion, Ödemiş, Sicillografi, Kurşun Mühür Ödemiş Archaeological Museum has eighteen Byzantine lead seals recorded in its inventory as of 2011. I started a research on these seals in June 2011 with the permission of the Directorate of Ödemiş Museum. In the same year, a library anonymous 11 . The capital letters of the seals in the catalogue in this article are written in "Athena Ruby" font and the Ancient Greek lowercase letters are written in the "New Athena Unicode" font prepared by the Dumbarton Oaks Institute. The types of the cruciform invocative monograms are defined according to the basic classification proposed by Laurent 12 .
The province of Ödemiş, about 120 km to the southeast of Izmir, was located in the region of Ancient Lydia, in the valley of Kaystros (Küçükmenderes), to the south of Tmolos (Bozdag, 2157 m), and in the Byzantine period it was located within the thema of Thrakesion 13 . The thema of Thrakesion, which included Ionia, Lydia, north of Karia and partly Phrygia regions in the beginning of the 8th century, probably got its name from Thracian soldiers who had settled in the region. It is known that the biggest city of this thema is Ephesus. Of Thrakesion, which gained great importance as a buffer zone against the Turks with the shrinking of the Byzantine Empire, what was left was only İzmir and its vicinity in the early 14 th century 14 . The two important cities nearest to Ödemiş in the Roman Imperial period were Hypaipa (former Tapay/Datbey/Günlüce) and Dioshieron (Christoupolis/Pyrgion/Birgi). Hypaipa, a suffragan affiliated to the Ephesus Metropolitan in the 6th century, became a metropolitan see during the time of the Emperor Isaakios Angelos II (1185-1195); and was relegated back to the position of a suffragan in the beginning of the 13 th century 15 . The other suffragan, i.e. Dioshieron, which was affiliated to the Ephesus Metropolitan, was called Christoupolis from the 7 th century onwards. Dioshieron appears on the seals under the name Pyrgion in the 11 th and 12 th centuries.
As seen in other Anatolian museums, the location where the seals at the Ödemiş Museum are found generally not clear. The collection created through acquisitions does not include seals from Hypaipa or Dioshieron; however, it 10 Seal of Ioannes anthypatos (ca. 7 th century AD), obv., cruciform monogram with a name, Ἰωάννου. Rev., cruciform monogram representing an office, ἀνθυπάτου, inv. no. 1882. Laflõ anonymous 11 . The capital letters of the seals in the catalogue in this article are written in "Athena Ruby" font and the Ancient Greek lowercase letters are written in the "New Athena Unicode" font prepared by the Dumbarton Oaks Institute. The types of the cruciform invocative monograms are defined according to the basic classification proposed by Laurent 12 .
The province of Ödemiş, about 120 km to the southeast of Izmir, was located in the region of Ancient Lydia, in the valley of Kaystros (Küçükmenderes), to the south of Tmolos (Bozdag, 2157 m), and in the Byzantine period it was located within the thema of Thrakesion 13 . The thema of Thrakesion, which included Ionia, Lydia, north of Karia and partly Phrygia regions in the beginning of the 8th century, probably got its name from Thracian soldiers who had settled in the region. It is known that the biggest city of this thema is Ephesus. Of Thrakesion, which gained great importance as a buffer zone against the Turks with the shrinking of the Byzantine Empire, what was left was only İzmir and its vicinity in the early 14 th century 14 . The two important cities nearest to Ödemiş in the Roman Imperial period were Hypaipa (former Tapay/Datbey/Günlüce) and Dioshieron (Christoupolis/Pyrgion/Birgi). Hypaipa, a suffragan affiliated to the Ephesus Metropolitan in the 6th century, became a metropolitan see during the time of the Emperor Isaakios Angelos II (1185-1195); and was relegated back to the position of a suffragan in the beginning of the 13 th century 15 . The other suffragan, i.e. Dioshieron, which was affiliated to the Ephesus Metropolitan, was called Christoupolis from the 7 th century onwards. Dioshieron appears on the seals under the name Pyrgion in the 11 th and 12 th centuries.
As seen in other Anatolian museums, the location where the seals at the Ödemiş Museum are found generally not clear. The collection created through acquisitions does not include seals from Hypaipa or Dioshieron; however, it 10 Seal of Ioannes anthypatos (ca. 7 th century AD), obv., cruciform monogram with a name, Ἰωάννου. Rev., cruciform monogram representing an office, ἀνθυπάτου, inv. no. 1882. Laflõ, The Museum of Ödemiş, 28-29, no. 3; seal of stratelates (ca. 7 th century AD), obv., monogram with a name? Rev., cruciform monogram representing στρατηλάτου, inv. no. 1831. Laflõ is understood that the items in the collection do mostly originate from the Western Anatolia. It was determined that three of the seals belonged to the officers of the thema of Thrakesion. One of these seals belongs to the strategos Mikhael, who held the titles of patrikios (πατρίκιος) and imperial protospatharios (βασιλικός πρωτοσπαθάριος) (catalogue no. 2). The office of strategos was used for the commanders of the military units in the lands of thema in the 7 th century 16 . The title of patrikios that appear together with Mikhael is one of the highest honorary titles of the aristocracy in the hierarchy of the Byzantium Empire 17 . This dignity, which remained important until the late 11 th century, was given to the empire's important strategoi. It is understood that the owner of the seal is Mikhael Lakhanodrakon (762-792), the most famous strategos of the thema, a leading iconoclast and one of the loyal generals of Constantine V. The other high dignity that Mikhael held i.e. protospatharios (chief guard, chief sword bearer) indicates that he was one of the leading guards of the emperor. The holders of this dignity, who are entitled to join the Senate, would reside in the palace in Constantinople as long as the emperor does not give a duty in a province. The holders of the title protospatharios, who would also attend imperial feasts, had close personal contact with the emperor 18 . Constantine V entrusted this thema, an economically extremely important, arable, productive large land located in the west of Asia Minor and called the Asian province previously to Mikhael Lakhanodrakon, one of his most passionate supporters. Lakhanodrakon 19 was known for his tortures and exiles in the thema of Thrakesion, especially around Ephesus, during the iconoclasm in the second half of the 8th century. In 770, he gathered all the priests and nuns in Thrakesion in Ephesus and forced them to choose either to marry or to be blinded and exiled to Cyprus 20 . It is narrated that Lakhanodrakon sold all the monasteries under his administration with together with their sacred properties and scriptures, and he successfully fulfilled his duty to the point that no monks were left in his region. In addition, Lakhanodrakon, who has served as a strategos for sixteen years, fought with the Arab and Bulgarians to protect his region and has become a mythical historical 16 Strategos (στρατηγός, plural στρατηγοί). Strategoi have over time become the administrative chiefs of the region in which they served; they have achieved a powerful position. In the 9 th century, they became rulers of smaller areas with the reduction of thema lands. The widespread strategos office on lead seals from this period also shows that they lost their importance with the increase in the number of this office. For Strategos, see: The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (ODB), Alexander Kazhdan et al. (eds.), 3 vols., Newyork 1991Newyork , 1964Newyork -1965 Patrikios (πατρίκιος) as a title, comes in a lower rank than magistros (μάγιστρος) and anthypatos (ἀνθύπατος). In 8 th -10 th centuries, strategos was used by authorities in the position of state governorship. is understood that the items in the collection do mostly originate from the Western Anatolia. It was determined that three of the seals belonged to the officers of the thema of Thrakesion. One of these seals belongs to the strategos Mikhael, who held the titles of patrikios (πατρίκιος) and imperial protospatharios (βασιλικός πρωτοσπαθάριος) (catalogue no. 2). The office of strategos was used for the commanders of the military units in the lands of thema in the 7 th century 16 . The title of patrikios that appear together with Mikhael is one of the highest honorary titles of the aristocracy in the hierarchy of the Byzantium Empire 17 . This dignity, which remained important until the late 11 th century, was given to the empire's important strategoi. It is understood that the owner of the seal is Mikhael Lakhanodrakon (762-792), the most famous strategos of the thema, a leading iconoclast and one of the loyal generals of Constantine V. The other high dignity that Mikhael held i.e. protospatharios (chief guard, chief sword bearer) indicates that he was one of the leading guards of the emperor. The holders of this dignity, who are entitled to join the Senate, would reside in the palace in Constantinople as long as the emperor does not give a duty in a province. The holders of the title protospatharios, who would also attend imperial feasts, had close personal contact with the emperor 18 . Constantine V entrusted this thema, an economically extremely important, arable, productive large land located in the west of Asia Minor and called the Asian province previously to Mikhael Lakhanodrakon, one of his most passionate supporters. Lakhanodrakon 19 was known for his tortures and exiles in the thema of Thrakesion, especially around Ephesus, during the iconoclasm in the second half of the 8th century. In 770, he gathered all the priests and nuns in Thrakesion in Ephesus and forced them to choose either to marry or to be blinded and exiled to Cyprus 20 . It is narrated that Lakhanodrakon sold all the monasteries under his administration with together with their sacred properties and scriptures, and he successfully fulfilled his duty to the point that no monks were left in his region. In addition, Lakhanodrakon, who has served as a strategos for sixteen years, fought with the Arab and Bulgarians to protect his region and has become a mythical historical 16 Strategos (στρατηγός, plural στρατηγοί). Strategoi have over time become the administrative chiefs of the region in which they served; they have achieved a powerful position. In the 9 th century, they became rulers of smaller areas with the reduction of thema lands. The widespread strategos office on lead seals from this period also shows that they lost their importance with the increase in the number of this office. For Strategos, see: The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (ODB), Alexander Kazhdan et al. (eds.), 3 vols., Newyork 19913 vols., Newyork , 19643 vols., Newyork -1965 Patrikios (πατρίκιος) as a title, comes in a lower rank than magistros (μάγιστρος) and anthypatos (ἀνθύπατος). In 8 th -10 th centuries, strategos was used by authorities in the position of state governorship. character 21 . It is not surprising that a seal belonging to the most famous commander of the region, i.e. Lakhanodrakon, is found in the collection of Ödemiş Museum. Another strategos of Thrakesion, who has a seal in the collection, is Theodoros (catalogue no. 1). Theodoros also holds the title of imperial spatharios 22 . Within the same century as Lakhanodrakon did, Theodoros, too, served as a commander in the same thema. However, Lakhanodrakon's extraordinary popularity aside, the titles of patrikios and chief spatharios demonstrates that he was superior to Theodoros in terms of rank. Theodoros seals are found in Istanbul Archeology Museums and some other collections 23 ; however, we do not come across his name on other sources.
In the Ödemiş collection, there is also the seal of an ek psosopou (ἐκ προσώπου) who served as deputy in 8 th -9 th centuries in thema of Thrakesion (catalogue no. 4). Ek prosopou has been a commonly used term for representatives of officers with various duties, especially in the Middle Byzantine Period (9 th -12 th centuries) 24 . When we consider ek prosopou in a certain thema, we can deduce that this title was used for a strategos or province officer. Similar to strategos, who was the highest military officer in the thema, ek prosopou was an officer commissioned directly by the emperor as a representative, undertaking duties such as handling requests and fulfilling imperial orders. However, in the empire hierarchy it is in a lower rank compared to strategos. In the event that the strategos, the biggest military ruler in the thema is absent for any reason, it is known that instead of another military official, the ek prosopou would take his place. Unfortunately, the name of this imperial representative in the Ödemiş seal is unknown because the first line of the seal is not visible. Another ek prosopou seal in the collection belongs to Constantine, who lived in circa 8 th century (catalogue no. 3). This time while it is possible to see the name of the seal holder, the place of duty is not specified. It is impossible to say anything other than that Constantine was the person whom the Emperor commissioned as a deputy with an uncertain issue.
Anatolikon, located to the east of Thrakesion and one of the first themas established in Asia Minor, is represented with only a single seal in the collection. The thema of Anatolikon, which initially included the western and southern parts of Asia Minor, included Lykaonia, Pisidia, Isauria, much of Phrygia and a part of Galatia in the 8 th -9 th centuries. Thrakesion and Kibyrraiotai 21 Theophanes, Choronographia, 1, 445-446, 51; Patrologia Graeca 100, col. 1164-1165. 22 In the 5 th -6 th centuries, spatharios, which was used for the close guards of the emperor in the palace, lost its military content in the 7 th century and turned into an honorary title only; It is understood that it lost its importance in the 9 th century. For spatharios, see ODB, 1935see ODB, -1936 character 21 . It is not surprising that a seal belonging to the most famous commander of the region, i.e. Lakhanodrakon, is found in the collection of Ödemiş Museum. Another strategos of Thrakesion, who has a seal in the collection, is Theodoros (catalogue no. 1). Theodoros also holds the title of imperial spatharios 22 . Within the same century as Lakhanodrakon did, Theodoros, too, served as a commander in the same thema. However, Lakhanodrakon's extraordinary popularity aside, the titles of patrikios and chief spatharios demonstrates that he was superior to Theodoros in terms of rank. Theodoros seals are found in Istanbul Archeology Museums and some other collections 23 ; however, we do not come across his name on other sources.
In the Ödemiş collection, there is also the seal of an ek psosopou (ἐκ προσώπου) who served as deputy in 8 th -9 th centuries in thema of Thrakesion (catalogue no. 4). Ek prosopou has been a commonly used term for representatives of officers with various duties, especially in the Middle Byzantine Period (9 th -12 th centuries) 24 . When we consider ek prosopou in a certain thema, we can deduce that this title was used for a strategos or province officer. Similar to strategos, who was the highest military officer in the thema, ek prosopou was an officer commissioned directly by the emperor as a representative, undertaking duties such as handling requests and fulfilling imperial orders. However, in the empire hierarchy it is in a lower rank compared to strategos. In the event that the strategos, the biggest military ruler in the thema is absent for any reason, it is known that instead of another military official, the ek prosopou would take his place. Unfortunately, the name of this imperial representative in the Ödemiş seal is unknown because the first line of the seal is not visible. Another ek prosopou seal in the collection belongs to Constantine, who lived in circa 8 th century (catalogue no. 3). This time while it is possible to see the name of the seal holder, the place of duty is not specified. It is impossible to say anything other than that Constantine was the person whom the Emperor commissioned as a deputy with an uncertain issue.
Anatolikon, located to the east of Thrakesion and one of the first themas established in Asia Minor, is represented with only a single seal in the collection. The thema of Anatolikon, which initially included the western and southern parts of Asia Minor, included Lykaonia, Pisidia, Isauria, much of Phrygia and a part of Galatia in the 8 th -9 th centuries. Thrakesion and Kibyrraiotai 21 Theophanes, Choronographia, 1, 445-446, 51; Patrologia Graeca 100, col. 1164-1165. 22 In the 5 th -6 th centuries, spatharios, which was used for the close guards of the emperor in the palace, lost its military content in the 7 th century and turned into an honorary title only; It is understood that it lost its importance in the 9 th century. For spatharios, see ODB, 1935see ODB, -1936Bury, The Imperial Administrative System, 112. 23 See catalogue no. 2. 24 Bury,The Imperial Administrative System,[46][47]Oikonomidès,Les listes de préséance,342. dissociated from the thema of Anatolikon as two new themas in the first half of the 8 th century 25 . The name of the first strategos of Anatolikon appears in year 669. The Ödemiş seal that we dated to the 11 th century belongs to Mikhael Tornikes, the protospatharios and judge of the Hippodrome (κριτὴς τοῦ ἱπποδρόμου) and of the Anatolikon (catalogue no. 9). It is known that prior to 1028, a judge named Mikhael Tornikes served at a court in the Hippodrome 26 . It is plausible to think that he is the owner of the seal. We do not possess any other information about Mikhael Tornikes; however, we can say that his family had an important status in the Byzantine aristocracy. Apparently the family of Tornikoi (or Tornikioi) 27 , who is understood to be of Armenian and or Georgian origin, settled in Constantinople in the early 10 th century; undertook important roles in the political affairs of the Byzantine Empire until the beginning of the 14 th century. It is known that some of the family members who have acquired a respectable position in the Byzantium served important duties in the civil government 28 .
Another seal that we are examining in this article belongs to Constantine, whom we encounter with titles of imperial chief guard and epi ton oikeaikon (ἐπὶ τῶν οἰκειακῶν) (catalogue no. 7). Epi ton oikeiakon is thought to have two different meanings in two different time periods, i.e. 873/4 and after 1030, and its content changed radically between these two dates 29 . Epi ton oikeiakon, which was used as a highly honorary title for the person in the emperor's private service towards the end of the 9 th century, was arranged as a private office (sekreton) under the jurisdiction of logothetes tou genikou in the 10 th century. A document from 994 shows that the sekreton ton oikeiakon existed in 972/73 30 , yet still not an independent department. This bureau manages state-owned properties and collects tax revenues. After 1030, it turned into a commission that was responsible for the acquisition and running of state land and an independent sekreton managing the financial affairs of the empire.
Another task related to the financial affairs of the state in the Ödemiş collection appears in the seal dated to the 10 th century, which belongs to Theodoros, who bears the title of imperial protospatharios (catalogue no. 8). The title of epi tou basilikou vestiariou, which demonstrates Theodoros' 25 John F. Haldon, Byzantium in the Seventh Century: The Transformation of a Culture, Cambridge 1997, 157;Agostino Pertusi, Constantino Porfirogenito: De Thematibus, Vatican City 1952, 114-115. 26 Peira 49, 4. 27 ODB, 2096-2097 Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit (PLP) 12, E. Trapp et al. (eds.), 15 vols., Vienna 1976-1996 Nicolas Oikonomidès, "L'évolution de L'organisation Administrative de L'empire Byzantin Au XIe Siècle (1025-1118)", Travaux et Mémoires 6, Paris 1976, 136-137;Pour une nouvelle lecture des inscriptions de Skripou en Béotie", Travaux et Mémoires 12, Paris 1994, 486-489. 30 Actes de Lavra I, 11. 15: καὶ γενικοῦ λογοθέτου οἰκειακῶς; see also, I, 56. 104-105: τελεῖν ὀφειλόντων τῶν μοναχῶν διὰ πόλεως εἰς τὸ τῶν οἰκειακῶν σέκρετον. dissociated from the thema of Anatolikon as two new themas in the first half of the 8 th century 25 . The name of the first strategos of Anatolikon appears in year 669. The Ödemiş seal that we dated to the 11 th century belongs to Mikhael Tornikes, the protospatharios and judge of the Hippodrome (κριτὴς τοῦ ἱπποδρόμου) and of the Anatolikon (catalogue no. 9). It is known that prior to 1028, a judge named Mikhael Tornikes served at a court in the Hippodrome 26 . It is plausible to think that he is the owner of the seal. We do not possess any other information about Mikhael Tornikes; however, we can say that his family had an important status in the Byzantine aristocracy. Apparently the family of Tornikoi (or Tornikioi) 27 , who is understood to be of Armenian and or Georgian origin, settled in Constantinople in the early 10 th century; undertook important roles in the political affairs of the Byzantine Empire until the beginning of the 14 th century. It is known that some of the family members who have acquired a respectable position in the Byzantium served important duties in the civil government 28 .
Another seal that we are examining in this article belongs to Constantine, whom we encounter with titles of imperial chief guard and epi ton oikeaikon (ἐπὶ τῶν οἰκειακῶν) (catalogue no. 7). Epi ton oikeiakon is thought to have two different meanings in two different time periods, i.e. 873/4 and after 1030, and its content changed radically between these two dates 29 . Epi ton oikeiakon, which was used as a highly honorary title for the person in the emperor's private service towards the end of the 9 th century, was arranged as a private office (sekreton) under the jurisdiction of logothetes tou genikou in the 10 th century. A document from 994 shows that the sekreton ton oikeiakon existed in 972/73 30 , yet still not an independent department. This bureau manages state-owned properties and collects tax revenues. After 1030, it turned into a commission that was responsible for the acquisition and running of state land and an independent sekreton managing the financial affairs of the empire.
Another task related to the financial affairs of the state in the Ödemiş collection appears in the seal dated to the 10 th century, which belongs to Theodoros, who bears the title of imperial protospatharios (catalogue no. 8). The title of epi tou basilikou vestiariou, which demonstrates Theodoros' 25 John F. Haldon, Byzantium in the Seventh Century: The Transformation of a Culture, Cambridge 1997, 157;Agostino Pertusi, Constantino Porfirogenito: De Thematibus, Vatican City 1952, 114-115. 26 Peira 49, 4. 27 ODB, 2096-2097 Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit (PLP) 12, E. Trapp et al. (eds.), 15 vols., Vienna 1976-1996 Nicolas Oikonomidès, "L'évolution de L'organisation Administrative de L'empire Byzantin Au XIe Siècle (1025-1118)", Travaux et Mémoires 6, Paris 1976, 136-137; Nicolas Oikonomidès, "Pour une nouvelle lecture des inscriptions de Skripou en Béotie", Travaux et Mémoires 12, Paris 1994, 486-489. 30 Actes de Lavra I, 11. 15: καὶ γενικοῦ λογοθέτου οἰκειακῶς; see also, I, 56. 104-105: τελεῖν ὀφειλόντων τῶν μοναχῶν διὰ πόλεως εἰς τὸ τῶν οἰκειακῶν σέκρετον. responsibilities for imperial treasury and storehouses, is also indicated on the seal. Vestiarion (βεστιάριον) is an office that was initially established in parallel to the office of sakellion 31 to supply the fleet and the army and store valuable equipment 32 . However, later on this office was also interested in monetary affairs. The imperial vestiarion received various payments, sharing them with sakellion. In the seal of Theodoros, the title of primikerios (πριμικήριος), which shows that he served at the highest level as a vestiarion, is also seen. Residing in the palace, primikerioi are usually eunuchs and it is known that they work under the emperor and hold duties in relation to certain public services 33 .
The last two seals we will mention belong to those involved in military missions. The first of these belong to Gregorios, a tourma (τούρμα) commander and the bearer of the title of imperial spatharios (catalogue no. 5). As per the new military regulations introduced in the 7 th century in the Byzantine Empire, two to four garrisons, i.e. tourmai, comprised of civil and military major subdivisions, were formed in each thema. It is thought that there were around 2000 to 5000 soldiers in each tourma in between 7 th and 10 th centuries 34 . Tourma commander, i.e. tourmarkhes (τουρμάρχης) Gregorios, who is not mentioned in the literature, does not have any other seal that we know of.
The holder of the other seal bears the title of spatharios. Since the first line on the backside of the inscription is damaged, the name of the owner cannot be read. Judged from the title komes tes kortes (κόμης τῆς κόρτης), we understand that this person is responsible for the inspection of the army as well as for the setting up of the tent of the emperor during an expedition (catalogue no. 6). Compared to the title of tourmarkhes, the title of the komes tes kortes is known to be a lower rank officer the in military hierarchy 35 . Although their jurisdiction is not clearly identified, since their seals were found in Ödemiş, we think that both officers were working in Western Asia Minor, possibly in the thema of Thrakesion. responsibilities for imperial treasury and storehouses, is also indicated on the seal. Vestiarion (βεστιάριον) is an office that was initially established in parallel to the office of sakellion 31 to supply the fleet and the army and store valuable equipment 32 . However, later on this office was also interested in monetary affairs. The imperial vestiarion received various payments, sharing them with sakellion. In the seal of Theodoros, the title of primikerios (πριμικήριος), which shows that he served at the highest level as a vestiarion, is also seen. Residing in the palace, primikerioi are usually eunuchs and it is known that they work under the emperor and hold duties in relation to certain public services 33 .

Catalogue
The last two seals we will mention belong to those involved in military missions. The first of these belong to Gregorios, a tourma (τούρμα) commander and the bearer of the title of imperial spatharios (catalogue no. 5). As per the new military regulations introduced in the 7 th century in the Byzantine Empire, two to four garrisons, i.e. tourmai, comprised of civil and military major subdivisions, were formed in each thema. It is thought that there were around 2000 to 5000 soldiers in each tourma in between 7 th and 10 th centuries 34 . Tourma commander, i.e. tourmarkhes (τουρμάρχης) Gregorios, who is not mentioned in the literature, does not have any other seal that we know of.
The holder of the other seal bears the title of spatharios. Since the first line on the backside of the inscription is damaged, the name of the owner cannot be read. Judged from the title komes tes kortes (κόμης τῆς κόρτης), we understand that this person is responsible for the inspection of the army as well as for the setting up of the tent of the emperor during an expedition (catalogue no. 6). Compared to the title of tourmarkhes, the title of the komes tes kortes is known to be a lower rank officer the in military hierarchy 35 . Although their jurisdiction is not clearly identified, since their seals were found in Ödemiş, we think that both officers were working in Western Asia Minor, possibly in the thema of Thrakesion. The letters in the first line on the back of the seal are hard to identify because they are broken and partially missing. Laflõ and Seibt suggest, though with suspicion, that the name of the owner of this seal was Leon 36 . The letters in the first line on the back are not visible; the first letter in the second line is given as Τ (tau). However, it is understood that the first letters on the back of the line are off flan. Therefore, we think that Τ given in this line as the first letter is actually the second letter and is actually Λ (lambda). In another example of the Ödemiş seal found in Istanbul Archaeological Museum collection, struck by the same boulloterion, it is understood that the first line is broken and the name of the seal holder is given as Mikhael with a question mark 37 . The first letter of the third line is read as 7 (καὶ). In Laflõ and SeibtÕs reading, the title of the owner was identified only as protospatharios instead of basilikos protospatharios because the first letter Β (beta) was not considered due to being off flan. In a similar specimen of the seal in the Dumbarton Oaks collection, this letter, which does not appear in our seal, is read as Β (beta), the first letter of β(ασιλικῷ) 38 . Therefore, we find it appropriate to complete the first letter of the third line, which is not seen in the Ödemiş seal, as Β. Laflõ and Seibt stated that the fourth line starts with τρατ and that the Τ of the following word, i.e. τῶν, is not legible. However, we think that this line starts with [σ]τρα, and uses an abbreviation mark of (/) after Α (alpha), and then continues with τῶ. Laflõ and Seibt suggest that Θρᾳκησίων in the last line was abbreviated as Θρᾳκ(η)σ(ίων) and that the letter than followed Κ (kappa) was Σ (Sigma). However, we suggest that the last line ends with the abbreviation sign (/), which precedes Θρᾳκ. The idea that the owner of the seal is the famous Mikhael Lakhanodrakon is very plausible 39  Translation: Mikhael Tornikes, protospatharios and judge of the Hippodrome and of the Anatolikon. The first line of the reverse where the name is written is missing. However, based on a similar example in the Dumbarton Oaks collection dating to the same century, we think that the name Mikhael was on the first line 47 . Another seal of Mikhael Tornikes was found in Corinth excavations 48 . Not published in Laflõ and Seibt but only inv. number and measurements 49 . 46 Laflõ, The Museum of Ödemiş, 34. 47 Nesbitt, Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, no. 86.31: obv., bust of a richly clothed saint. Ὁ ἅγιος [....]. Rev., inscription of six lines. Μιχαὴλ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ κριτῇ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἱπποδρόμου καὶ τῶν Ἀνατολικῶν τῷ Τορνήκῃ. 48 Gladys R. Davidson, Corinth, vol. 12, The Minor Objects, Princeton 1952, 327, no. 2819: Μιχαὴλ τ Τορνίκῃ. 49 Laflõ, The Museum of Ödemiş, 34.