Watch List notes:

Johannes, ...spatharios, thesmophylax and judge of Thrakesion, 10th century. Seal (Lead, 25 mm, 7.22 g, 12 h). +KЄ ROHΘ TⲰ CⲰ Δ૪Λ, - Θ / Γ/Є/O-P/ΓI/C Nimbate facing bust of Saint George, holding a martyr's cross in his right hand. Rev. IⲰAN, / [A' or R']CΠAΘ, ΘЄC/[MO]ΦVΛAK' S / [KP]IT, TⲰN ΘP/[A]KHCIⲰN in five lines, decorations in upper and lower fields. Unpublished in the standard references. Cracked along the channel on the reverse and minor flatness, otherwise, good very fine.


The court dignity is partly obscured in the reverse legend. Johannes was either a protosphatarios or an imperial spatharios. In addition, Johannes lists two judicial offices on his seal: firstly, he was a thesmophylax (literally "protector of the law"), which means he was associated with the tribunal at the Hippodrome in the capital. Secondly, he also mentions the office of a judge serving in the provincial administration of the Thrakesion theme. It is likely, however, that this second office was farmed out.