Johannes Batatzes, protokynegos, 1341. Seal (Lead, 27 mm, 18.51 g, 12 h). MHP ΘV / H / O/ΔH/ΓH-TP/A The Mother of God, nimbate, seated facing on high-backed throne, holding Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger, in her arms. Rev. ΠPⲰTO/KVNHΓÒC BA/TÁTζHC IⲰÁ/NNHC CÒI BÍBΛЄ / XV TÓVCΔЄ KV/POI TOVC ΛÓΓOVC ('Book of Christ, the protokynegos Johannes Batatzes authorizes his words through you') in seven lines, decorations flanking the last line. F. Doelger: Aus den Schatzkammern des Heiligen Berges. München 1948, 121/6-7. Laurent, Bulles Métriques 316. Oikonomides, Dated seals, 148. Schlumberger, Mélanges 23. Wassiliou-Seibt, Corpus 1862. A well-centered and well struck piece with a charming image of the Mother of God and an interesting poetic legend. Very minor surface breakage along the channel on the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.


Two parallel examples to our seal are hanging from their original documents in the archives of the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos and can be securely dated to April 1341. In this time period, the name of an apographeus, a high-ranking fiscal official tasked with land surveying, named Johannes Batatzes, appears in multiple Athonite documents. However, on his seal, Batatzes mentions not his office but his court dignity of protokynegos, literally 'chief huntsman'. From other sources we learn that he belonged to the highest circles of Byzantine aristocracy. In 1345 Batatzes was killed by Turkish soldiers during his governorship of Thessalonike (PLRE 2518).