Sisinnios, patrikios and strategos, circa 700-750. Seal (Lead, 30 mm, 26.80 g, 11 h). ЄΞЄ[Λ૪ MЄ] KЄ ЄΞ ANΘPOΠ૪ ΠOVNHPOV ("Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man") Large cruciform monogram ΘЄOTOKЄ BOHΘH; in quadrants, TⲰ - CⲰ / Δ૪-ΛⲰ ("Mother of God, help your servant"). Rev. AΠO ANΔP[OC AΔIK૪ S Δ]OΛI૪ PVCЄ MЄ ("Preserve me from the unjust and deceitful man); inside pearled circle, CICI/NNIⲰ ΠA/TPIKIⲰ S / CTPATH/ΓⲰ+ (Sisinnios, patrikios and strategos") in five lines. Glynias, Prayerful Iconoclasts, 14. Zacos/Veglery 3180. An interesting early Byzantine seal with quotations from the Psalms. Some marks and surface roughness, otherwise, good very fine.


The circular legends are quotations from Scripture, namely Psalms 139, 2 and 42, 1. This seal likely belongs to Sisinnios, the first strategos of Thrakesion, who was a relative of Leo III. He was executed in 744 for plotting against the emperor in the aftermath of the revolt of Artavasdus.