Helena Tornikene, zoste and kouropalatissa, 1070-1100. Seal (Lead, 24 mm, 13.11 g, 12 h). Θ / Π/AN/TЄ/Λ/Є-H/M/O/[N] Nimbate bust of St. Pantaleon facing, holding medical instrument in his right hand and medicine box in his left. Rev. +AΓIЄ / R,Θ, TH C[H] / ΔUΛH ЄΛЄN, / ZⲰCTH S KU/[R]UΠAΛATIC/CH TH TOP/NIKINI ('Saint, help your servant Helena Tornikene, kouropalatissa') in seven lines; below, decorations. Cheynet, Société p. 168. Of great interest, a magnificent depiction of the patron of doctors on a seal of an Armeno-Byzantine noble woman. Minor surface roughness, otherwise, good very fine.


As her family name informs us, Helena was a daughter of a Tornikios, a name of Armenian origin. Furthermore, her titulature implies that she was married to a kouropalates and therefore belonged to the highest strata of Byzantine aristocracy. This is reinforced by the high title of zoste, which she bears in her own right - it is the only truly female Byzantine dignity. On the basis of their choice of patron saint, Cheynet suggests that Helena might have been the daughter of Michael Tornikios, who was protospatharios, judge of the Hippodrome and strategos of Samos (Zacos III, lot 272) and judge of Anatolikon (DO Seals III, 86.31).