enigmatic lead seal

[Diederik]

Some time ago I bought this byzantine lead seal. Although the letters are mostly clear, I can make head nor tails of the texts on both sides.
Can anyone give me a hand?

Frans

[Holding_History]

Interesting, looks like a combo of latin and greek, not sure if that is possible though.
Nathan

[justinopolitanus]

]ΚΑΙC?
ΠΡΟCO?
ΤΩΝ  ΚΥΡ?
???ΕΟΤΟ?
ΟΤΗΝΑ
??O?


KE??
ΩΕΩΑ
??ΙΚΗΤΑ
??ΑΘΚ?
CCΠΙΤΗ*
??

[Diederik]

As I have it in hand, I might read some symbols differently, but the overall reading is correct:

ΚΑΙC..           ΚεΗΟ
ΠΡΟCΟΝ..         ΙωCωΔ
ΤωΝΚΥΡΗ         ..ΙΚΗΤΑ
ΙεεΘΤΟ…         ..ΠΑΘΚΔ
ΟΤЎΚΛΤ         ΔΠΙΤΥЖΓ
..ΛΟ..             ΚΛ


I am very curious to know what other see in it, and more especially what it all means!


Frans

[Gert]

Hi Frans,
The photo's of obverse and reverse are the other way around. The legend begins with an invocation 'Lord help your servant...' (Kyrie boethe to so doulo - abbreviated KERO / TW CW D), and then follows the seal's owner's name and offices. You can read his name Niketas [N]IKHTA in the 3rd line and his first office 'spatharokandidatos' - CPATH KDD in the 4th.
Regards
Gert

[Diederik]

Well, Gert, that's a start!
Even with your reading, I find this very hard....
Hope someone picks up part of the rest.

Frans

[Gert]

Yes, especially the ligate letters and abbreviations make it difficult, like his second title, in the last lines of the obv. 'Member of the Chrysotriklinou', abbreviated
'E(Pi)I T(OV) (XP)-gamma (for 'tri') / K(lambda)
The reverse starts 'KAI' = 'and', but I am not sure yet of the rest of his titles. The last line might give Niketas' second name.
Regards
Gert
 

[Gert]

I am fairly sure the reverse reads KAI EK / PROCOPOV / TWN KVRH / PPEOTON / O TOV KAT / PHLOPOV.
The only thing that bothers a bit is the spelling of Kibyrraioton, which involves some letter swapping (H for I and O for W), but I think this is wat is meant. The last lines give Niketas' family name. It turns out to be a neatly abbreviated legend for the man: 'Lord help Niketas Kataphloros, spatharokandidatos, member of the Chrysotriklinou and Ek prosopou of Kibyrraioton'. Coincidentally, Dumbarton Oaks has a seal of Niketas Kataphloros, spatharokandidatos and ek prosopou of the Thracians, with the same form of spelling for the family name. Maybe it's the same individual.
Regards
Gert