Nikolaos Atoumes, protospatharios epi tou Chrysotriklinou, imperial notarios and judge of the Hippodrome and the Velon. Seal (Lead, 33 mm, 34.66 g, 12 h), late 11th-first half 12th century. The Mother of God “Hodegetria” standing, nimbate, wearing chiton and maphorion, pointing with her right hand towards Christ seated on her left arm. Rev. +ΘKЄ R,Θ, / NIKOΛA A/CΠAΘ ЄΠ TU / XPΓKΛ R’ N,TAP / KP,T, T, IΠΠΔP, S / TU RΛ TW A/TUMH in seven lines. Apparently unpublished. A large and impressive seal of an important Byzantine judge and administrator. Somewhat rough, otherwise, very fine.

Nikolaos bears the rare family name of Atoumes. Two seals of Nikephoros Atoumes are known from the end of the 12th-1st half 13th century (BBÖ I 174 and Cheynet/Theodorides 25). Several members of the family Atouemes, spelled with an extra epsilon, are known from Palaeologean times. It is possible that these families traced their origin to Atouemes Senacherim, the second son of Senacherim Johannes, the Armenian prince of Vaspurakan (Cf. W. Seibt: The Sons of Senek'erim Yovhannēs, the Last King of Vaspurakan, as Byzantine Aristocrats, in: Revue des Études Arméniennes 37 [2016-2017], p. 119-133, p. 122)