Konstantinos Arsakides, magistros

Konstantinos Arsakides, magistros, 2nd half of 11th century. Seal (Lead, 22 mm, 6.47 g, 12 h). M-X St. Michael, nimbate, standing facing, holding scepter in his right hand and globe in his left. Rev. ACⲰMA/TЄ ROHΘЄI / TⲰ CⲰ Δ૪Λ, / KⲰN MAΓ[I]/CTPⲰ TⲰ / APCAKI/Δ ("O Matterless One [St. Michael], help your servant Konstantinos Arsakides, magistros") in seven lines. Apparently unpublished, but cf. Wassiliou-Seibt 1212 (for a seal naming a Konstantinos Arsakides with metrical legends on both sides). Good fine.


We know of several members of the Armenian family Arsakides (Aršakuni). This name goes back to the royal house of the Arsacids, which ruled Parthia and Armenia in antiquity and still enjoyed great fame in middle Byzantine times. Thus, for some noble families, an Arsacid descent was constructed, most notably for the emperor Basil I. See also below, lot 4156, for another unpublished seal of a Konstantinos Arsakides.

Leu Web 16 Lot 4155
21.05.2021