Ares Numismatics
Web Auction 2 28 Sep 2019
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Lead seal of Vaïos protoproedros and doux of ...(?) (11th cent.
Diam.: mm Weight: 13.03 gr. Condition: VF. Attractive natural patina.
Obverse: The bust of a saint prelate (saint Keladion?), en face, blessing and holding
the book of Gospels, columnar inscription, partly present: [Ο Α(ΓΙΟΣ)]/[ΚΕΛΑ?]-
ΔΕΙΩ(Ν) (Saint Keladion).
Reverse: Inscription in 5 lines: Κ(ΥΡΙ)Ε Β(ΟΗ)Θ(ΕΙ)/ ΒΑΪ(Ω) ΠΡΩΤΟΠΡΟ/ΕΔΡ(Ω)
ΚΑΙ ΔΟΥ/ ΚΙ Ε.ΛΕ.CΑΚΟΥΝ(?)= Κύριε, βοήθει Βαΐῳ πρωτοπροέδρῳ καὶ δουκὶ ...
(?) (Lord, help Vaïos protoproedros and doux of ... (?)).
Concerning the dignity of Proedros (Greek: πρόεδρος, "president"), that was a
senior Byzantine court and ecclesiastic title in the 10th to mid-12th centuries. The
female form of the title is proedrissa (προέδρισσα). The title was created in the 960s
by Nikephoros II Phokas and was first awarded to Basil Lekapenos, the
eunuch parakoimōmenos. It was placed very high in the court hierarchy, coming
immediately below the position of the zostē patrikia and before the magistros,
meaning that it was the most senior non-imperial title open to males. The title
apparently continued to be restricted to eunuchs until the mid-11th century, when it
was opened up to the wider aristocracy and extensively awarded. The holder of this
dignity was also the president of the Senate (ὁ πρόεδρος τῆς συγκλήτου), and the
term proedros was often used to denote precedence in other offices, e.g. proedros of
the notarioifor the prōtonotarios. The title was widely awarded in the 11th century,
after it was opened up to non-eunuchs, prompting the creation of
the prōtoproedros (πρωτοπρόεδρος, "first proedros") to distinguish the most senior
amongst its holders. The title, along with most of the middle Byzantine court
nomenclature, fell into gradual disuse in the Komnenian period, and disappeared in the
latter 12th century. According to the De Ceremoniis (I.97) of Emperor Constantine VII
Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959), the clothing and insignia of the proedros in the 960s
were: "a rose-colored and gold-embroidered tunic, a gem-encrusted belt, and a
white chlamys [cloak] trimmed with golden bands and with two gold tablia [square
patches] and decoration of ivy leaves." (Cf. "Proedros. Proedros as a Civilian Dignity"
in Kazhdan, Alexander, ed. (1991), Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Oxford
University Press, p. 1727).
Condition: Very Fine
Weight: 13.05gr
Diameter: 22.95mm
From a Private Dutch, Collection.
Diam.: mm Weight: 13.03 gr. Condition: VF. Attractive natural patina.
Obverse: The bust of a saint prelate (saint Keladion?), en face, blessing and holding
the book of Gospels, columnar inscription, partly present: [Ο Α(ΓΙΟΣ)]/[ΚΕΛΑ?]-
ΔΕΙΩ(Ν) (Saint Keladion).
Reverse: Inscription in 5 lines: Κ(ΥΡΙ)Ε Β(ΟΗ)Θ(ΕΙ)/ ΒΑΪ(Ω) ΠΡΩΤΟΠΡΟ/ΕΔΡ(Ω)
ΚΑΙ ΔΟΥ/ ΚΙ Ε.ΛΕ.CΑΚΟΥΝ(?)= Κύριε, βοήθει Βαΐῳ πρωτοπροέδρῳ καὶ δουκὶ ...
(?) (Lord, help Vaïos protoproedros and doux of ... (?)).
Concerning the dignity of Proedros (Greek: πρόεδρος, "president"), that was a
senior Byzantine court and ecclesiastic title in the 10th to mid-12th centuries. The
female form of the title is proedrissa (προέδρισσα). The title was created in the 960s
by Nikephoros II Phokas and was first awarded to Basil Lekapenos, the
eunuch parakoimōmenos. It was placed very high in the court hierarchy, coming
immediately below the position of the zostē patrikia and before the magistros,
meaning that it was the most senior non-imperial title open to males. The title
apparently continued to be restricted to eunuchs until the mid-11th century, when it
was opened up to the wider aristocracy and extensively awarded. The holder of this
dignity was also the president of the Senate (ὁ πρόεδρος τῆς συγκλήτου), and the
term proedros was often used to denote precedence in other offices, e.g. proedros of
the notarioifor the prōtonotarios. The title was widely awarded in the 11th century,
after it was opened up to non-eunuchs, prompting the creation of
the prōtoproedros (πρωτοπρόεδρος, "first proedros") to distinguish the most senior
amongst its holders. The title, along with most of the middle Byzantine court
nomenclature, fell into gradual disuse in the Komnenian period, and disappeared in the
latter 12th century. According to the De Ceremoniis (I.97) of Emperor Constantine VII
Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959), the clothing and insignia of the proedros in the 960s
were: "a rose-colored and gold-embroidered tunic, a gem-encrusted belt, and a
white chlamys [cloak] trimmed with golden bands and with two gold tablia [square
patches] and decoration of ivy leaves." (Cf. "Proedros. Proedros as a Civilian Dignity"
in Kazhdan, Alexander, ed. (1991), Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Oxford
University Press, p. 1727).
Condition: Very Fine
Weight: 13.05gr
Diameter: 22.95mm
From a Private Dutch, Collection.