Georgios, apo hypaton and [kommerkiarios] of the warehouse of Isauria and the slave markets, Indiction Year 8 = 694/95. Seal (Lead, 33 mm, 26.42 g, 12 h). [Γ]EⲰPΓIOV A - Π[OVΠA]TON; across field, indictional sign and year H Justinian II standing facing, wearing crown, divisiton and chlamys, holding globus cruciger in his right hand.
Rev. AΠOΘI/KIC ICAV/[P]IAC S TO/N ANΔPA/ΠOΔON ('of the warehouse of Isauria. Werner Seibt (1998): Neue Aspekte der Slawenpolitik Justinians II. Zur Person des Nebulos und der Problematik der Andrapoda-Siegel: Vizantijskij Vremennik 55/2, 126-132, p. 131. Cf. Zarnitz in SBS 4, p. 185, no. 2 (the apotheke of the slaves of Isauria and Kilikia, dated the preceding year, 693/694). A highly interesting seal mentioning a slave market. Some marks on the obverse and minor striking weakness on the reverse
, otherwise, good very fine.
From a European collection, formed before 2005.
Following Justinian II's military campaign in the Balkans in 688/689, the emperor resettled large Slavic populations from their homes in Asia Minor's Opsikion theme. Shortly thereafter, a military force was raised from among them, led by a man named Neboulos as their commander (archon). In 692/693, this Slavic army participated in a significant campaign against the Umayyads, under the command of the Anatolikon strategos and later emperor, Leontios. Initially gaining the upper hand during the Battle of Sebastopolis, the Byzantines eventually suffered defeat when Neboulos and his men deserted to join the Arabs, allegedly after being bribed by the Arab general. Justinian II exacted brutal reprisals against the remaining Slavs of Opsikion, executing their leaders and enslaving many. Several types of seals, including the one we possess, reference the slave market where these captives ('andrapodon') were sold. Neboulos and his followers were resettled in Syria by the Arabs.
Usually, the seals of the kommerkiarioi specify the slave markets of particular provinces (e.g., the slaves of Isauria). The absence of a geographic designation on our seal suggests that Georgios held authority over slave markets across all provinces, not just Isauria.
