Atouemes (Atom) Senacherim, proedros, 3rd quarter 11th century. Seal (Lead, 30 mm, 15.00 g, 12 h). Θ / ΓЄ/ⲰP... Nimbate facing bust of Saint George, holding a spear over his right shoulder, and resting a shield on his left arm. Rev. +KЄ R,Θ / ATOVЄMH / ΠPOЄΔPⲰ / TⲰ CЄNA/XЄPЄIM in five lines. Cheynet, SBS 9, p. 220. 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, fig 2. Minor roughness and striking weakness, otherwise, good very fine.



Atouemes, whose name likely has Iranian origins, was an Armenian prince and one of the sons of Senek'erim Yovhannēs (Sennacherib-John), the final Artsruni King of the small kingdom of Vaspurakan situated to the south and southeast of Lake Van. His father was compelled to relinquish his kingdom to the Byzantine Empire after aligning with the anti-Byzantine coalition led by Georgian King Georgi I (998/1002-1027). While the king himself is not documented on seals, his wife Chususa and his sons David, Atom, Aposachles, and Constantine all appear in sigillographic record bearing Byzantine court titles, indicating their elevated status within Byzantine aristocracy.