Lead Seals of the Kibyra Excavations

Abstract

In this article, twelve Byzantine lead seals found during the excavations of 2010-2017 in Kibyra Magna are, published. The inscriptions on these seals show that they formerly belonged to persons who can be identified with certain administrative and fiscal officials. They served between the 7th to early 8th centuries in the strategiai of the Anatolikoi and of the Kibyrraiotai, which then developed independently of the other themes. The seals in question include: those of an archon (Georgios) and two apo eparchontes (Pantoleon and Eusebios), a chartoularios (Theophylactos), a protector or protiktor (Martinos), and two prelates (Zotikos and Prokopios) who are thought to be the bishops of Kibyra Magna. The remaining five seals fall into anonymous category since no authority or family name of their owner is depicted on them. This study aims to present and evaluate their data concerning the history of the city and the region.