Marvellous. I agree the last line must be CVKHC - so "droungarios of Syke". This place Syke must be, I propose, the fortress (kastron) of this name on the coast of
Cilicia. It is mentioned by Theophanes for the year 771 as the place of an Arab siege. The generals (strategoi) of three
themes and a naval force broke the siege and prevented the capture of the fortress, but couldn't prevent raid and plunder of the surroundings.
Theodoros, the owner of the seal, must have been the commander of the fortress. We can't know he was commander of Syke at the time of the siege of course, because Theophanes does not mention a name. The seal does date to the 8th century.
Below, Theophanes on the attack.
Regards
Gert
ANNUS MUNDI 6263 (SEPTEMBER 1, 771— AUGUST 31, 772)
In this year ibn Wakkas attacked
Romania. He advanced from
Isauria to the fortress of Sykes, which he besieged. When the Emperor
heard of this, he wrote to Michael the general of the Anatolies, Manes
of the Bukellarii, and to Bardanes of the Armeniacs, who all moved to
seize the rugged pass which was ibn Wakkas’ exit-route. Under its
general the
protospatharios Petronas, the Kibyrhaiots’ naval force
reached Sykes’ harbor and anchored there. When he saw this, ibn
Wakkas lost
hope for himself. But he encouraged and inspired
his troops, who sallied forth against the mounted thematic troops while
shouting their war-cry and put them to rout. He killed many of them
and captured all the territory roundabout, then withdrew with much
plunder.