N., patrikios, imperial protospatharios and logothetes of the herds, 8th century. Seal (Lead, 26 mm, 10.24 g, 12 h). Large cruciform monogram ΘЄOTOKЄ BOHΘH; in quadrants, TⲰ - CⲰ / Δ૪-ΛⲰ ('Mother of God, help your servant'). Rev. .../ATP, B,A,/CΠAΘ, S Λ/OΓOΘ, TⲰ/N AΓЄΛ, in five lines. Cf. an unpublished seal in Dumbarton Oaks BZS.1947.2.999. Cleaning scratches, otherwise, very fine.



A logothetes, of which there were several in the Byzantine Empire, was a high-ranking government official, equivalent to a minister or secretary of state. The owner of our seal, being logothetes of the herds, was in charge of the horses and mules that were reared in western Asia Minor. These animals were to be deployed in the army and the imperial postal service.