F. Curta - Amphorae and Seals. The Sub-Byzantine Avars and The Quaestura Exercitus

AMPHOR AE AND SEALS: THE SUB -BYZANTINE
AVARS AND THE QU AEST UR A EXERCIT US

Florin Curta
The number of amphora finds within the Carpathian Basin is quite small, and the only Late
Roman 2 specimen is that from the extraordinary burial in Kunbbony. However, Late Roman
2 amphorae have been excavated on sixth-century fortified sites in the northern Balkans,
especially within the lands at that time within the borders of the provinces of Moesia II and
Scythia Minor. Used primarily for the transportation of olive oil, such amphorae have been
rightly regarded as a material culture correlate of the administrative unit introduced in 536
and known as the quaestura exercitus. The special character of this unit, combining the two
provinces in the Balkans with rich provinces overseas is also revealed by finds of lead seals, the
distribution of which matches that of amphorae. The conclusion of the paper is that the absence
of Late Roman 2 amphorae finds from Early Avar assemblages may have something to do with
the early dissolution of this administrative unit (some time during the reign of Tiberius II),
which put a stop on the shipment of commodities transported in those amphorae.
Keywords: amphora, quaestura exercitus, lead seals, annona, titles, trade, Kunbbony
In a paper presented ten years ago at a conference on the Mediterranean and the Carpathian Basin,
Csand Blint called for a re-assessment of the Early Avar culture as sub-Byzantine. To be sure,
there are no vast quantities of African Red Slip wares or Syrian glass in the Carpathian Basin.
Nonetheless, Early Avar assemblages have produced artifacts of undoubtedly Byzantine origin,
such as the fragment of a silver tray from Tpe or the bronze pitcher from Budakalsz.1 In this
context, there is however no mention of amphorae. This is surprising, given that twenty years prior
to the conference in Budapest, Csand Blint had pointed to amphorae as evidence for connections
between Byzantium and the Carpathian Basin.2 The reason for amphorae being scratched off the
list of diagnostic Byzantine artifacts from Avar-age assemblages may be that, while the number
of such assemblages has grown considerably since 1983, the evidence of amphorae has remained
comparatively insignificant. The catalogue in Tivadar Vidas monograph on Avar-age pottery has
only 8 entries (nos. 338345) for amphorae (type IF/b).3 Of those, one is of a much earlier (perhaps
third-century) date, while another is most likely a local imitation, and not an artifact of undoubtedly
Byzantine origin.4 All finds taken into consideration by Tivadar Vida are from burial assemblages,
but in the meantime fragments of genuinely Byzantine amphorae have also been found in ceramic

3
4
Blint 2004, 3839 (biznci peremkultra). For the Tpe silver tray fragment, first published by Supka 1913,
396, 398, 400, see Lszl 1940, 7780; Makkay 1961; Garam 1993, 3637; Garam 2001, 173; Bruder 2012. For the
Budakalsz pitcher, see PsztorVida 2000; Vida 2006; Vida 2009.
Blint 1983, 120. in reference to the amphora from Kunbbony. See also Blint 1985, 212, with specific reference
to the amphora from Dny.
Vida 1999, 242-243.
Vida 1999, 93 (in reference to the specimens from Cskberny and Beej, respectively).
Florin Curta
assemblages from the early Avar settlement in Klked-Feketekapu.5 That, however, does not
change much the general impression: Nichts deutet anhand der geringen Zahl awarenzeitlichen
Amphoren darauf hin, da bei den Awaren regelmige Warenlieferungen eingetroffen waren.6
A distribution map of sixth- to seventh-century amphora finds in the regions outside the
Carpathian Mountains now within Romania (Walachia and Moldavia), the Republic of Moldova, and
Ukraine (Bukovina) shows twice as many find spots.7 Moreover, there is a sharp contrast between
amphora finds from the Carpathian Basin and those from the regions outside the Carpathian
Mountains. While the dominant type of amphora in the latter is Late Roman 2 (also known as Keay
LXV, Kuzmanov XIX, or Scorpan VII A1-2), most finds in the Carpathian Basin are of the Late Roman
1 type.8 The only Late Roman 2 (henceforth: LR2) amphora from the Carpathian Basin known so far
is the 53-liter specimen found in 1971 in the exceptionally rich male burial in Kunbbony. Although
the assemblage has been dated to the second or third quarter of the seventh century, the amphora is
believed to be much earlier, dating, as it were, to the years of intensive Avar-Byzantine relations in
the late sixth or early seventh century.9 The unique character of this find, both in itself and because
of the archaeological context to which it belonged, has been jocosely expressed by Pter Tomka. As
he put it, the amphora of the Kunbbony leader was obviously not used to import iron nails.10 LR2
amphorae are believed to have been used for the transportation of olive oil, although such other
commodities as wine, resin, turpentine, olibanum, or myrrh cannot be excluded.11 It is most likely the
content of the amphora, and not the container per se that was regarded as worth depositing in the
rich burial of the Kunbbony man. If that content, whatever it may have been, was so precious, why
arent there more LR2 amphora finds within the area controlled by the Early Avar qaganate? Men
like the Kunbbony warrior and their immediate predecessors are known from the written sources
to have been able to extract much greater value from the Roman government, primarily in the form
of gold coins.12 It is unlikely therefore that the explanation for the absence of LR2 amphora finds
from the Carpathian Basin is the inability of the Avars to procure the goods commonly transported
in such containers. There must be another explanation, and in this paper I will attempt to provide
a possible solution.
I will first examine the data available for understanding the economic relations made visible
by LR2 amphorae. Such containers have long been associated with the distribution of the annona
to the troops stationed in the northern Balkans during the sixth century.13 More than ten years
ago, I have myself suggested that that distribution was indicative of the implementation of one of
the key administrative reforms of the early part of Justinians reign, the quaestura exercitus.14 I will
therefore turn to the evidence of seals pertaining to that reform in order to draw comparisons with
the distribution of amphora finds in the Balkan Peninsula.
The LR2 amphora, a typically globular container decorated with characteristically parallel,
closely aligned ridges on the shoulder, appears in the Balkans at a much earlier date (second quarter
Hajnal 2005, 439, 441442.
Vida 1999, 93. Similar conclusion in Stadler 2005, 136.
7
Curta 2001, 242243 with n. 23, 244, fig. 37; Mgureanu 2010, 80, fig. 4. Compare with Vida 1999, 92, fig. 28.
8
For the LR2 type, see Scorpan 1977, 274; Opai 1984, 316318; 1985, 9; Bttger 1988, 7374; Steckner
1989, 65; Mackensen 1992, 241. Both the Tiszavsvari and Dny specimens are of the Late Roman 1 type. In
Klked-Feketekapu, there are only fragments of Late Roman 1 and Late Roman 5/6, with no shards of LR2.
9
Garam 2001, 168.
10
Tomka 1998, 80. For the Kunbbony burial, see TthHorvth 1992. Kunbbony is regarded as the richest male
burial of the entire Avar age (e.g., Blint 2003, 149). The first to identify the amphora from Kunbbony as
belonging to the LR2 type was 1979, 14.
11
Scorpan 1977, 276; Bass 1982, 181; Hautumm 1981, 47; Opai 1984, 317; Doorninck 1989,
252; Steckner 1989, 65; Mackensen 1992, 252; Sodini 2000, 185; Karagiorgou 2001, 146149.
12
For Byzantine coins within the area controlled by the Avars, see now the remarkable study of Somogyi 2014.
13
Karagiorgou 2001.
14
Curta 2001, 187188. The association already appears in Opai 1996, 167.
5
6
Amphorae and Seals
of the fourth century) than anywhere else in the Mediterranean world.15 Olga Karagiorgou has noted
that if this type of amphora was primarily used for the transportation of olive oil, it is remarkable
that it is conspicuously rare in such olive oil producing areas of the Empire as Syria, North Africa,
and Spain. By contrast, kilns for the production of LR2 amphorae have been identified between
Ermioni and Portocheli in the Peloponnesus, in one of the most important olive oil production areas
of the late antique Mediterranean.16 The numerous dipinti and graffiti on such amphorae found on
many sites in the Balkans suggest that the production and distribution of these vessel[s] were
under the control of a well-organized central authority, which felt the need to carefully identify and
measure transported commodities.17 The garrisons of the forts along the sixth-century Danube
frontier of the Empire and in the northern Balkans were supplied with olive oil from southern
Greece and the Aegean.18 Burkhard Bttger even believed that in fourth- to sixth-century fort in
Krivina/Iatrus, the relative increase in the number of ceramic containers for the transportation
of wine and olive oil signals the presence of garrisons of Germanic federates.19 Indeed, the LR2
amphora is the predominant type on several sites in the northern Balkans, from Svetinja and
Archar/Ratiaria to the west to Golemannovo Kale, Krivina/Iatrus, Musait/Sacidava, and Murighiol/
Halmyris, next to the Danube Delta.20 Amphorae made in southern Greece and the Aegean, that
transported goods (especially olive oil) produced there, must have reached the northern Balkan
region through the mechanism of in-kind tax collection resulting in a surplus to seasonal military
requirements, [which] would have subsequently entered the trade chain as commercial produce.21
During the second half of the sixth century, the intensification of the military conflicts on the
Danube frontier and the wars with the Avars in the Balkans led to an extensive recycling of LR2
amphorae, which were now used and reused not only for the transportation of olive oil, but also of
wine and other commodities, perhaps even of corn.22 According to Olga Karagiorgou, it was that
gradual dissociation of LR2 from the exclusive transport of olive oil that led to the alteration of its
formal characteristics, which may be observed from the second half of the sixth century onwards.23
On the basis of the more recent publication of finds from the Balkans, Karagiorgous idea may
now be confirmed and substantiated. Because different sites were published in different ways, some
better than others, her approach based on the quantification of well-stratified pottery assemblages
cannot be applied uniformly to the new data. However, truly interesting conclusions may be drawn
even from a simple plotting on a map of the most important sites which have produced remains of
LR2 amphorae (published in sufficient detail to be recognized as such) from assemblages dated to
the sixth or early seventh century (Fig. 1).24 At a first glimpse, there is a sharp contrast between the

17

18

19

20

15
16

23

24

21
22
Mackensen 1992, 241; Karagiorgou 2001, 129130.

Karagiorgou 2001, 147.
Opai 1996, 166.
Bttger 1990, 927.
Popovi 1987, 2425; Kuzmanov 1987, 115; Mackensen 1992, 239; Kakragiorgou 2001, 146. By contrast, the LR2
amphorae represent 28 percent of all amphora material in sixth-century ceramic assemblages in Argos (AbadieReynal 1989, 53).
Opai 1984, 317.
Adamclisi: Gmureac 2009, 250. Argos: Abadie-Reynal 19989, 51 and fig. 7. Butrint: Reynolds 2004, 231232.
Cape Kaliakra: 1978, 21, 20, fig. 1. Cape Shabla: 1994, 1719 and 18 pl. V/8. Capidava; Opri
2003, pls. 21/69a, 22/70. Cariin Grad: Bjeklajac 1990, pl. XXI/7; BikiIvanievi 2012, 44. Celei: Tudor 1965: pl.
XXV/6. Constana: Scorpan 1977, 276; Opai 1984, 314. Corinth: SlaneSanders 2005, 271, 267, fig. 3.22. Dichin:
Swan 2007, 260, 261, fig. 3/23. Durrs: Shkodra 2005, 136, 141, fig. 6/48. Garvn: Opai 1984, 315. Golemannovo
Kale: Mackensen 1992, pl. 51/17. Histria: Suceveanu 1982, 89, 90, fig. 9/24; Bdescu 2012, 316322. Jurilovca:
Opai 1984, 315, 686, pl. XI/1. Kladovo: Cvjetianin 1996, 99, pl. 4/IV.10. Koper: KajfeJosipovi 2000, 54, pl.
6/24. Montana: 1987, fig. 34. Murighiol: Topoleanu 2000, 228. Nikiup: Poulter 1998, 117, fig. 8/4.
Odrci: - 1989, 44, pl. III/10. Pernik: k 1981, 142, fig. 61/1, 2. Piran: Perko 1994, 242, 247,
pl. 4/1. Provadiia: 1974, 316, pl. II/12. Pyrgouthi: Hjohlman 2005, 119. Rifnik: Bausovac 2010, 696, 700,
Florin Curta
Fig. 1. The distribution in the Balkans of sixth- to early seventh-century Late

Roman 2 amphorae: 1 Adamclisi; 2 Argos; 3 Butrint; 4 Cape Kaliakra;
5 Cape Shabla; 6 Capidava; 7 - Cariin Grad; 8 Celei; 9 Constana; 10
Corinth; 11 Dichin; 12 Durrs; 13 Garvn; 14 Golemannovo Kale; 15
Histria; 16 Jurilovca; 17 Kladovo; 18 Koper; 19 Montana; 20 Murighiol;
21 Nikiup; 22 Odrci; 23 Pernik; 24 Piran; 25 Provadiia; 26 Pyrgouthi;
27 Rifnik; 28 Shkodra; 29 Sliven; 30 Stari Kostolac; 31 Tulcea; 32 Varna
western and the eastern parts of the Balkan Peninsula, as well as between those in the north and
those in the south. With the exception of Rifnik, there are no finds in the interior of the western and
northwestern Balkans. Moreover, between the sites in northern Istria (Koper and Piran) and those
in Albania (Shkodra and Durrs), there is a major gap. This distribution is perfectly mirrored on
the opposite, western coast of the Adriatic Sea. LR2 amphorae appear sporadically in Aquileia and
a few sites in its hinterland, then at Pescara and its environs, but there are no other finds further
south that could be dated to the sixth or early seventh century with any degree of certainty.25 The
western and northwestern parts of the Balkans are in fact not devoid of amphora finds. On the
contrary, that seems to be the almost exclusive area of small, elongated type known as spatheion.26
fig. 3/6. Shkodra: Hoxha 1992, 213214, 235, pl. II/17. Sliven: 2009, 84, pl. I/1, 2. Stari Kostolac: Popovi
1987, 16, fig. 13/6. Tulcea: Opai 1984, 315. Varna: 1972, 281, pl. V/53.
25
AuriemmaQuiri 2007, 4041.
26
Mackensen 19087, 258; Mackensen 1992, 250251; Knific 1994, 220; Perko 2005, 66.
Amphorae and Seals
By contrast, out of 23 sites with LR2 amphorae in

the northern Balkans, 15 are in the interior, 10 of
them at some distance from both the Black Sea
and the Danube. The plotting of finds on a map
strongly suggests that those amphorae entered
the interior mostly from the eastern (Black Sea)
coast of the Balkan Peninsula, and that the
Danube operated as the main line of distribution
for most forts in the northern Balkans. This is
further substantiated by the distribution of
finds to the north of that river, many of which
cluster in the Walachian Plain, between the
Danube and the Carpathian Mountains.27 The
fragments found on settlement sites in southern
Romania must therefore have been of amphorae
originating from the lands immediately to the
south of the river Danube.
There are some striking similarities between
the distribution in the Balkans of LR2 amphorae
and that of sixth- to early seventh-century lead
seals with known provenance (Fig. 2). In both
cases, there are evidently less finds in the
interior than on the coast, especially that of the
Black Sea. Some sites (Cariin Grad, Constana,
Histria, and Jurilovca) have in fact produced
both categories of artifacts. Like amphorae,
most lead seal finds have been found in the
lands between the Danube to the north, the
Black Sea to the east, the Stara Planina range of
Fig. 2. The distribution of sixth- to seventh-century
mountains to the south, and the river Iskr to
seals in the Balkans. Smallest symbols are for single
the west. If one looks at the borders of the sixthfinds, larger ones for 2 or 3, between 4 and 6, between
century provinces in the Balkans, it becomes
7 and 10, between 11 and 20, and over 25 specimens,
readily apparent that most LR2 amphorae have
respectively. Numbers refer to the catalog of finds
been found within the lands of Scythia Minor
and Moesia II (Table 1).28
Plotting lead seal finds on a map was made possible by the almost concomitant publication of a
number of very important works, especially the prosopography of Scythia Minor in Late Antiquity
and the corpus of Byzantine seals from Bulgaria.29 More than a decade ago, I have proposed the idea
that the distribution of seals had something to do with access to the Danube or to the sea and, as
a consequence, finds of lead seals are to be associated with the quaestura [exercitus].30 The idea was
then adopted and developed by Andreas Gkoutzioukostas in a series of articles and a recent book
dedicated to the history of the quaestura exercitus.31
Curta 2001, 244, fig. 37; Mgureanu 2010, 80, fig. 4. For LR2 amphorae from Dulceanca, see also Teodor 2000,
325.
28
Compare Figure 1 with the map of the Balkan provinces of the early Byzantine Empire (MorrissonPopovi
Ivanievi 2006, Map I).
29
Barnea 2005; Iordanov 2006; Iordanov 2009; Iordanov 2012; 2011. See also Handley 2010.
30
Curta 2002, 1415.
31
Gkoutzioukostas 2008; 2009; 2009; 2010.
27
Florin Curta
Besides the specimens in Iordanovs corpus

Province
Number of seals
and in Barneas proposopographic study, only
Scythia Minor
130
a few new seals have been published since
Moesia II
51
my 2002 paper.32 However, new readings
Thracia
20
of the legends, the re-dating of some seals,
Haemimons
19
Achaia
6
and especially a critical re-evaluation of the
Dacia Mediterranea
6
information available about provenance invite
Dardania
2
a re-examination of the evidence. To be sure,
Macedonia
I
1
while my earlier catalog of finds had 83 entries,
Epirus
Vetus
1
there are now over 230 seals that have been dated
Rhodope
1
with some degree of certainty to the sixth or
early seventh century. Besides correcting some
Table 1. Number of seals by province
wrong attributions and erroneous conclusions
of my earlier study, it is necessary to look at the
Location
Emperor
Specimens
evidence of seals in the aggregate and in terms
Pomorie
Anastasius
of geographic distribution, a step farther from
Gradishteto
Justinian
Gkoutzioukostass approach.33
Grozdevo
Justinian
2
The most effective way to do so is to treat lead
Harmanli
Justinian
seals as archaeological finds. Unfortunately,
Isaccea
Justinian
all known specimens are stray finds resulting
Izvoarele
Justinian
from accidental digging, unsystematic surveys
Kosharica
Justinian
or, more recently, the use of metal detectors. In
Krasen
Justinian
other words, no information exists about the
Krepcha
Justinian
archaeological context for any one of them.34 A
Krichim
Justinian
few are said to come from forts: Batovo, ean,
Melnica
Justinian
Pazardzhik
Justinian
Dobri dol, Goliam izvor, Krichim, Nova Cherna,
Pomorie
Justinian
Nova Nadezhda, Rish Pass, Shivachevo, and
Preslav
Justinian
Vetren. A sixth-century date for the occupation
Primorsko
Justinian
phase on at least some of those sites has been
Provadiia
Justinian
suggested on the basis of the seals themselves.
Silistra
Justinian
The Krichim seal is that of Emperor Justinian,
Stara Zagora
Justinian
while two seals of John (Ioannes), the vicar of
Sushina
Justinian
Thrace, have been found in Shivachevo. Both
Zvean
Justinian
forts are in Thrace, one on the northern slopes
Cariin Grad
Maurice
of the Rhodope Mountains, the other on the
southern slopes of the Stara Planina range.
Table 2. Seals of emperors
The Krichim seal, one of no less than twenty
seals of Emperor Justinian, is thus among the
southernmost imperial seals found in the Balkans (Table 2).
An almost equal number of specimens are known from Thrace, on one hand, and from the two
Danubian provinces Moesia II and Scythia Minor on the other hand. While the small number
of seals from Anastasius and Maurice is comparable to that from Crimea, the very large number of
seals of Justinian all from the northeastern and eastern part of the Balkans is in sharp contrast
to finds from other parts of the empire.35
Chiriac 2006; 2011.
Most evident in 2010.
34
Only the signet ring from Kovachevec is known to have been found during the 1992 excavations inside an early
Byzantine fort, but without any archaeological context: 1994, 22.
35
Only four seals of Justinian are known from Crimea, while individual seals have been found for the emperors
Anastasius, Maurice and Phocas: 1997, 145148.
32
33
Amphorae and Seals
Fig. 3. The distribution of imperial seals in the Balkans. Smallest symbols are for single,
larger ones for up to two specimens
Location
Constana
Constana
Spetses
Constana
Constana
Asparukhovo
Jurilovca
Akhtopol
Shivachevo
Constana
Constana
Silistra
Izvorovo
Name
Leontios
Oktavianos
Gregorios
Ioannes
Paulos
Areobindus
Petros
Ioannes
Ioannes
Theodoros
Theodoros
Ioannes
Adrianos
Office
a secretis
a secretis
chartularios
chartularios
chartularios
eparch, kommerkiarios
apo hypaton, logothete
notarios, vicar of Thrace
notarios, vicar of Thrace
praefectus insularum
primisingularis
topoteretes
vicar of Thrace
Specimens
Table 3. Seals of officials in the imperial administration
In the absence of any information about the archaeological context, it is difficult to assess the
significance of this unusual presence of the seals of Justinian in the Balkans. That at least one of
them was found in a fort suggests that the emperors letter and instructions were addressed to the
commander of the troops stationed there, even though some the addressees of the letters to which
the other seals were attached may well have been civilians, perhaps officials of the provincial
administration. That four out of twenty seals are from sites along the Lower Danube also suggests
that they reached their addressees by ship, and not by land (Fig. 3).
To the reign of Justinian also point four seals mentioning vicars of Thrace (Table 3). They have
all been found on sites south of the Stara Planina, three within the territory of the Roman province
Florin Curta
of Thrace, and another in Haemimons (Fig.

4). The seals from Shivachevo and Akhtopol
are without any doubt of one and the same
person, an incumbent named John (Ioannes).
Whether or not his term postdated that of
Adrianos, who is mentioned on the seal from
Iavorovo, the office must have been introduced
by Emperor Justinian, perhaps during the later
years of this reign.36 The administrative reforms
at the beginning of his reign had replaced the
two vicarii of the Long Wall, introduced by
Emperor Anastasius, with a praetor of Thrace,
who had at the same time civil and military
authority. He was only responsible for the
region of the Long Wall. By contrast, the vicar
of Thrace had exclusively civil duties and his
jurisdiction covered a territory much larger
than the region of the Long Walls. Andreas
Gkoutzioukostas has rightly suggested that that
officials authority extended to the provinces
of Thrace, Rhodope, Haemimons and Europe,
but not to Moesia II and Scythia Minor.37 This
would imply that the letters bearing the seals
of the vicars of Thrace were sent to officials
of the imperial administration or, less likely,
to military commanders within the territory
under their jurisdiction. Judging by the absence
of such seals from the provinces of Moesia II
Fig. 4. The distribution in the Balkans of seals of
and Scythia Minor, there was no official line of
officials in the imperial administration. Smallest
communication between the civil and military
symbols are for single finds, larger ones for 2 and up
to 6 specimens, respectively
authorities there, and the vicar of Thrace.
Seals of officials in the imperial
administration found either in Moesia II or
in Sctyhia Minor are indeed of an altogether different nature. The seal of a prefect (eparch) and
kommerkiarios named Areobindus, was found next to the basilica in Dzhanavar tepe, in the suburbs
of Varna.38 Seals of kommerkiarioi appear during the last years of Justinians reign, and the office
may have been introduced through the administrative reforms of the 530s. The earliest seal of
kommerkiarioi known so far is that of Michael, Marinos, and Areobnidos (sic!), all three kommerkiarioi
of Tyre between 538 and 552.39 No less than twelve individuals are known from seals, who have
been kommerkiarioi during the sixth and early seventh century. Only one of them (Magnus the
Syrian) is mentioned as kommerkiarios of a particular location (Theoupolis, i.e., Antioch).40 Because
of his title of eparch, Areobindus from the Asparukhovo seal has been regarded as one and the
2009, 63. Two other seals of Adrianos and another two of John are known, but
without any information about provenance (ZacosVeglery 1972, nos. 2798 and 2802). Two other vicars of
Thrace named Armatos and Solomon are known from inscriptions dated to the reigns of Justin II and Maurice,
respectively: Beevliev 1964, 198, 227.
37
2009, 112113, 116120. For the vicarii of the Long Wall and the praetor of Thrace, see
Wiewiorowski 2010, 181188.
38
2011, 351. For the basilica in Dzhanavar tepe, see Minchev 1985, 5758; 2001, 4454.
39
Brandes 2002, 283.
40
Brandes 2002, 285.
36
Amphorae and Seals
same person as the prefect (eparch) of the East

mentioned in two novels of Justinian (nos. 145
of February 8, 553, and 147 of April 15, 553), as
well as a kommerkiarios whose tombstone was
found in Jerusalem.41 If this interpretation is
correct, then the Asparukhovo seal must have
been attached to a letter from one of the most
important members of the highest echelon of the
Table 4. Seals of the military
imperial administration in Constantinople. The
seals of two a secretis, Leontios and Oktavianos,
found in Constana, also point to a direct line
of communication between authorities in Tomis
and Constantinople, for a secretis were officials
employed in the imperial chancery.42 Because
of his title of honorary consul (ex-consule), the
logothete named Peter, whose seal was found in
Jurilovca must have been an important official
in the financial administration of the pretorian
prefecture, perhaps a tax collector or assessor.43
Similarly, Theodore, the primisingularis whose
seal was also found in Constana, may have been
an official in charge with carrying messages
from the pretorian prefect.44 The topoteretes
named John (Ioannes), whose seal was found in
Silistra, may have been a deputy in the service
of the pretorian prefecture.45
According to Wolfram Brandes, there was an
inflation of chartularius titles during the second
half of the sixth century, and only a few of them
could in fact be associated with the pretorian
prefecture.46 The two chartularii, John (Ioannes)
and Paul(os), whose seals were found in
Constana have therefore been regarded as clerks
in the administration of the quaestura exercitus.47
The presence of the administrative structures of
Fig. 5. The distribution in the Balkans of seals of the
the quaestura exercitus is in fact betrayed by the
military. Smallest symbols are for single,
seal from Constana of a prefect of the islands
larger ones for up to 3 specimens
named Theodore. As Andreas Gkoutzioukostas
has demonstrated, this cannot possibly have
been the head of the provincia insularum, which
was headed by a praeses, not by a prefect. Moreover, the quaestor exercitus is named prefect of the
islands in the novel 69 of 538, as well as in the epitome of novel 41 (May 18, 36) written by the
Location
Constana
Constana
Dobri Dol
Constana
Chinitsa
Silistra
Name
Paxamos
Georgios
unknown
Conimundus
Konstantinos
Theoktistos
Rank
kandidatos
skribon
skribon
stratelates
stratelates
stratelates
2011, 349; Brandes 2002, 264265.

2009, 178179 with n. 621. The a secretis was a committee secretary working for
senior clerks under the magister officiorum.
43
Brandes 2000, 94.
44
Gkoutzioukostas 2008, 116. believes that Theodore may have been an official of the quaestura exercitus. Singularii
were mounted messengers.
45
2010, 16 with n. 64.
46
Brandes 2002, 101.
47
Gkoutzioukostas 2008, 116; 2009, 178.
41
42
10
Florin Curta
Fig. 6. The distribution in the Balkans of seals of churchmen. Smallest symbols are for single,
larger ones for up to 2 specimens
antecessor Julian shortly after 555.48 According

to this, as well as other epitomes by the teachers
of law Theodore Hermoupolites and Athanasius
of Emesa, the quaestor exercitus was in charge
with the distribution to the Balkan provinces
of Moesia II and Scythia Minor of the military
Table 5. Seals of churchmen
annona collected from a number of islands in the
Aegean Sea, from Caria, as well as Cyprus. With
his headquarters in Odessos (present-day Varna), the prefect of the islands also judged appeals
from those provinces and served as archon for the local military forces.49 That his seal was found
in Constana, the site in the Balkans which has produced the largest number of lead seals and LR2
amphorae underscores the great significance Tomis played for the quaestura exercitus as the main
point of entry for the military annona collected overseas.
Location
Cariin Grad
Cariin Grad
Constana
Nesebr
Name
unknown
Redopos
Theotimos
Andreas
Rank
archbishop
bishop
bishop
metropolitan
Gkoutzioukostas 2008, 112113. For the Latin text of Justinians novel 41, as rendered in Julians epitome, see
2009, 137. John Lydus, On Powers II 28, in SchoellKroll 1954, 262 calls the
quaestor exercitus a prefect of Scythia who had a special forum for a court of justice, and an entire staff, both
of which were generated from the prefecture [of the East].
49
Gkoutzioukostas 2008, 110. For the quaestor exercitus as military commander, see also Szdeczky-Kardoss
1985, 61, 63; Wiewiorowski 2004; Wiewiorowski 2006; Madgearu 2009. In connection to the creation of the
quaestura exercitus, Odessos was also elevated to the status either of metropolitan see (Nikolova 1998, 97) or
of autocephalous bishopric (Opperman 2010, 4849). For the increased exports of Proconnesian marbles from
Constantinople because of the creation of the quaestura exercitus, see Barsanti 1990, 210.
48
Amphorae and Seals
11
That three out of six seals of military officers

known from the sixth- and early seventhcentury Balkans are also from Constana (Table
4) bespeaks the importance of that annona for
the military units stationed in the Danube
provinces of the Empire (Fig. 5). Some of those
seals are of guard officers, such as those of the
kandidatos Paxamos and the skribon Georgios,
but Conimundus was a high-ranking general,
possibly the same person as the last king of the
Gepids.50
While only a few seals of churchmen are
known from the sixth- to early seventh-century
Balkans, their distribution is in sharp contrast
to that of seals of officials in the imperial
administration, and of the military (Table 5;
Fig. 6). It is perhaps no accident that as many
seals of bishops are known from Cariin Grad
as there are from the coastal cities of Tomis and
Mesembria. Judging by the excavation of the
episcopal complex in the citadel of Cariin Grad,
this must have been one of the most grandiose
centers of Christianity in the central Balkans
during the sixth century.51
Equally significant is the distribution of
seals with honorary titles (Table 6). All seals
of former prefects, four out of seven seals of
honorary consuls, and eight out of nine seals of
patrikioi have been found either in Moesia II or
in Scythia Minor, with the largest number from
Constana (Fig. 7). Particularly interesting are
the two seals of Theodosius, bearing the title of
Fig. 7. The distribution in the Balkans of seals with
illustris. That title appears especially in the sixth
honorary titles. Smallest symbols are for single,
century, although ever since the fourth century
larger ones for two,and up to 7 specimens, respectively
it has been associated with a vir clarissimus, that
is with a man of the highest senatorial rank.
The pretorian prefect, for example, is mentioned as illustris in 535. Both consuls (until 559) and
honorary consuls were called illustres, and so were all senators. Sometimes, the title was retained
even after the individuals term in office had ended. Moreover, the emperor could bestow the title
on individuals who were neither senators, nor state officials. In that respect, the use of illustris only
with the name, without any office or rank, appears to be a post-Justinianic phenomenon.52 A seal
is known from Cyprus, which was made with the same boulloterion as that found in Preslav and
belonging to John (Ioannes) Plagiotes, illustris.53 It is not clear who in Moesia II may have been the
addressee of John Plagiotes letter, but there is a conspicuous cluster of seals with honorary titles in
2009, 197198. Contra: Curta 2002, 16. On Cunimund, the last king of the Gepids,
see Diculescu 1923, 152162.
51
DuvalPopovi 2010.
50
Koch 1903, 34, 3739, 41, 45.

2010, 17. believes that John Plagiotes was in some way associated with the quaestura exercitus.
52
53
12
Florin Curta
Fig. 8. The distribution in the Balkans of commercial seals (circle) and private tesserae (square).
Smallest symbols are for single, larger one for 3 and up to 9 specimens, respectively
Location
Constana
Nufru
Silistra
Chinitsa
Melnica
Veliko Trnovo
Nesebr
Silistra
Isaccea
Preslav
Constana
Constana
Silistra
Constana
Constana
Slava Rus
Constana
Dropla
Dorkovo
Constana
Name
Theodosius
Kyriakos
Chrestos
Platon
Theodosios
Theodosios
Petros
Petros
Neikias
Ioannes Plagiotes
Theodosius
Andreas
Epiphanios
Leontios
Paulos
Philippikos
Photios
Theodoros
Theoktistos
unknown
Title
apo eparchon
apo hypaton
apo hypaton
apo hypaton
apo hypaton
apo hypaton
apo hypaton, patrikios
apo hypaton, patrikios
hypatos
illustris
illustris
patrikios
patrikios
patrikios
patrikios
patrikios
patrikios
patrikios
patrikios
patrikios
Table 6. Seals with honorary titles
Specimens
3
Amphorae and Seals
13
the lands of the two Danube provinces included

within the quaestura exercitus.
A similar conclusion may be drawn on the
basis of the analysis of seals with personal
names, often in the form of monograms. Of all
127 such seals known so far, 88 have been found
2
in Scythia Minor, and 27 in Moesia II. Of those
from Scythia Minor, the majority (76) is from
Constana. Five of them have been interpreted
2
as private tesserae.54
There are also seals without any office or
title, which have been interpreted as commercial
(Table7). Unlike private seals, which appear
3
in other parts of the Balkans, the commercial
Table 7. Commercial seals
ones are found only within the borders of the
province of Scythia Minor. Again, the largest
number of all (13 out of 17 known specimens)
is from Constana (Fig. 8).55 Constana, on the other hand, is the site in the Balkans, which has
produced the largest number of Late Romans 2 amphorae dated to the sixth century.56
The plotting of finds on the map thus suggests the existence of a strong correlation between
lead seals and amphorae of the LR2 type. Like seals, amphora finds peter out beyond the western
border of Moesia II, within the north-central, northwestern, and central parts of the Balkans. The
distribution of both categories of artifacts is most likely to be explained in reference to the quaestura
exercitus. While the amphorae indicate the routes through which the military annona collected in
the overseas provinces of the quaestura was distributed to the troops stationed in the northern
Balkans, the seals reveal the considerable interest in that distribution network on the part both
of the imperial administration (including the emperor himself) and of the lower echelons of the
provincial administration.
In my opinion, the only way to explain the absence of more Byzantine amphorae of the LR2 type
from Avar-age assemblages in the Carpathian Basin is in reference to the quaestura exercitus. As a
matter of fact, the last mention of the prefect of the islands in the written sources is in connection
to the Avars. In an attempt to curb the Sclavene raids into the Balkan provinces, Emperor Tiberius
II (r. 578582) appealed to the military assistance of the Avars. He ordered John who at this time
was governor of the isles and in charge of the cities of Illyricum to go to the land of Pannonia
and transport Bayan himself and the Avar forces to Roman territory, ferrying the multitude of
barbarians in the so-called large transports. It is said that about 60,000 armored horsemen were
brought across to Roman territory. From there Bayan crossed Illyricum, reached Scythia, and
Location
Constana
Constana
Isaccea
Constana
Izvoarele
Constana
Izvoarele
Constana
Constana
Constana
Izvoarele
Constana
Constana
Name
Apelatou
Bassos
Kyrillos
Meanter
Patrikios
Paulos
Paulos
Petros
Photios
Phterotos
Romylos
Tereies
unknown
Specimens
Barnea 2005, 5 (Antonios), 8 (Eugenios, two specimens), 24 (Theodoros, two specimens). There are several
cases of namesakes among the seals from Constana (Eugenios, Georgios, Ioannes, Leoninos, Leontios, Paulos,
Petros, Sergios, Theodoros, Theodoulos, and Thomas). Several owners of the seals found in Constana have
namesakes mentioned on seals from other sites: Georgios in Chernokoniovo, Dobri dol, Dropla, and Isaccea;
Gregorios in Isaccea; Ioannes in Isaccea, Miladinovci, Nova Nadezhda, and Spetses; Leontios in Izvoarele and
Shivachevo; Paulos in Cariin Grad, Gorica, and Preslav; Priskos in Dropla, Garchinovo, Pliska, and Vetren;
Sergios in Chernozem, Isaccea, and Prosenik; Theodoros in Kovachevec and Vetren; Theodoulos in Plateia.
In some cases, such as that of the seals with the name Priskos, there is an apparent cluster of finds within a
particular region, which suggests that the seals may have belonged to one and the same person. However,
namesakes also appear on sites at a great distance from each other, such as Ioustos in Chernokoniovo and Dobri
dol.
55
Moreover, three seals two from Isaccea and one from Silistra belong not to individuals, but to cities
Chersonesus, Pergamon, and Ephesus. They most likely point to commercial relations between Scythia Minor,
on one hand, western Asia Minor and Crimea, on the other hand.
56
Rdulescu 1973.
54
14
Florin Curta
prepared to re-cross the Danube in the so-called double-sterned ships.57 The Avars appear to
have landed in Scythia Minor, and then to have crossed the river against the Sclavenes in eastern
Walachia or southern Moldavia. Bayan and his armored horsemen burned the Sclavene villages
and laid waste the fields, while the Sclavenes took refuge into the nearby woods. This episode has
recently attracted the attention of historians, but mostly because of concerns with the chronology
of the Avar-Byzantine or Avar-Slavic relations.58 Others have focused on such details as the route
of the Avars from Pannonia to eastern Walachia (or southern Moldavia), or the ships on which they
were twice ferried.59 Although correctly identifying John as the quaestor exercitus under Emperor
Tiberius II, few have noticed that this is in fact the last mention of the prefect of the islands.60 It
goes without saying that Roman troops in the northern Balkans must have continued to be supplied
by some other, similar mechanism, but the distribution of the military annona collected from Caria,
Cyprus, and the islands in the Aegean Sea appears to have completely ceased. At least that much
results from the dating of the archaeological assemblages in the northern Balkans that include
LR2 amphorae. One of the houses excavated in Svetinja near Stari Kostolac/Viminacium the site
with LR2 finds closest to the Avar qaganate produced a large amount of amphora fragments, 84
percent of which were of the LR2 type. That ceramic assemblage was associated with a follis struck
in Nicomedia in 571/572 for Emperor Justin II.61
The production of LR2 amphorae did not stop abruptly at the end of Justin IIs reign. Such
amphorae were still in use shortly before the Avar siege of Constantinope, as demonstrated, among
other things, by the cargo of the Yass Ada shipwreck. Eighty percent of the globular amphorae on
that ship have been most likely made not long before the ships sinking in 626.62 It has been suggested
that the Yass Ada ship may have been transporting the annona.63 If so, it was certainly not for the
troops stationed in the northern Balkans. By the time the Avar leader was buried in Kunbbony,
quaestura exercitus was history.64 It is therefore unlikely that the amphora buried with him, which
was made at some point during the second half of the sixth century,65 contained olive oil the staple
commodity transported from the rich overseas provinces to the northern Balkans. One is almost
tempted to conclude that the amphora was deposited in the Kunbbony burial precisely because it
had been recycled to carry some exotic stuff Somalian olibanum, turpentine, or Arabian myrrh
most befitting the elevated status of the deceased person. To paraphrase Csand Blint: those who
buried the Kunbbony aristocrat did not think of things Byzantine being just beautiful.66 They
must have thought of them as being rare, and therefore invaluable.
POST SCR IPT U M

Two recently published seals of Emperor Justinian have been found in the early Byzantine
stronghold of Izvor near Radomir, in western Bulgaria, and in the environs of the city of Haskovo,
respectively.67 Together with Zvean,68 the former is among the westernmost specimens of such

59

60

61

62

57
58

65

63
64

68

66
67
Menander the Guardsman, Historia, fr. 21: Blockley 1985, 192 (Greek), 193 (English).
Avar-Byzantine relations: Kardaras 2006. Avar-Slavic relations: ivkovi 2008, 1112.
Route of the Avars: Chiriac 1993, 198199; Barnea 1997, 36; Teodor 2003, 7. Ships: BounegruZahariade 1996, 63.
Gkoutzioukostas 2008, 111. The quaestura is last mentioned in Justin IIs novel 163 of 575.
Popovi 1987, 2425; Ivanievi 1987, 62.
Doorninck 1989, 248. Variants of broad-bellied globular amphorae variants of LR2 have been excavated
from seventh- and even eighth-century contexts in Istanbul, Cyprus, Crete, and southern Italy (Vroom 2005, 61).
Alfen 1996, 213.
However, the quaestura exercitus must have had a longer history than implied by Opperman 2010, 40.
The bottom of the Kunbbony amphora is round, without any tip, a feature which disappears after the middle
of the sixth century, cf. Opai 1984, 316.
Blint 2004, 38.
2012, 179
For which see now StamenkoviIvanievi 2013, 247248.
Amphorae and Seals
15
seals found in the Balkans. However, the conclusions of this paper do not change either because of
those two additional imperial seals, or because of two other seals of unknown individuals (seals
with block monograms) found in the environs of Sofia, at Novo Iskr and German.69 Similarly, 12
new commercial seals from Constana that have recently been published70 are simply additions to
the already impressive number of seal finds from that city and therefore strengthen my conclusions.
The discovery of fragments of Late Roman 2 amphorae in Petrovac (Montenegro)71 has only slightly
shortened the segment of the eastern Adriatic coast between Piran and Shkodra devoid of any
finds of such amphorae. Nonetheless, more finds are now known from several sites in Greece:
Thessaloniki,72 Sikyon,73 and the Andritsa Cave.74
APPENDIX
A list of sixth- to seventh-century seals from the Balkans
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

71

72

73

74

69
70
Akhtopol (Bulgaria); Ioannes, notarios and vicar of Thrace; 6th c.; Iordanov 2009, 429.
Arkovna (near Provadiia, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 953.
Asparukhovo (near Varna, Bulgaria); Areobindus, eparch and kommerkiarios; 553565;
2011, 347.
Batovo (near Balchik, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 738.
Cariin Grad (near Lebane, Serbia); Ireneus (?); 6th c.; DuvalJeremiPopovi 2010, 409.
Cariin Grad (near Lebane, Serbia); Maurice, emperor; 582-602; Saria 1939, 56.
Cariin Grad (near Lebane, Serbia); Paulos; 6th c.; DuvalJeremiPopovi 2010, 410411.
Cariin Grad (near Lebane, Serbia); Redopos, bishop; 6th c.; DuvalJeremiPopovi 2010,
409410.
Cariin Grad (near Lebane, Serbia); unknown, archbishop; 6th c.; DuvalJeremiPopovi
2010, 410.
Cariin Grad (near Lebane, Serbia); unknown; 6th c.; DuvalJeremiPopovi 2010, 411.
ean (near Vushtrri, Kosova); Artemios; 6th c.; Ivanievipehar 2005, 151.
Chernokoniovo (near Haskovo, Bulgaria); Georgios; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 716717.
Chernokoniovo (near Haskovo, Bulgaria); Ioustos; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 724.
Chernozem (near Yambol, Bulgaria); Sergios (?); 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 733.
Chinitsa (Argolid Bay, Greece); Konstantinos, stratelates; first half of the 7th c.;
1996, 20.
Chinitsa (Argolid Bay, Greece); Platon, apo hypaton; 7th c.; 1996, 19.
Constana (Romania); Andreas, patrikios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1992, 288289.
Constana (Romania); Antonios; 6th; private tessera; Barnea 2005, 5.
Constana (Romania); Apelatou; 6th; commercial seal; Barnea 2005, 5.
Constana (Romania); Arsilios; 6th7th c.; Knechtel 1915, 88.
Constana (Romania); Barbatos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 6.
Constana (Romania); Bardas; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1992, 290.
Constana (Romania); Bassos; 5th6th c.; commercial seal; Barnea 1995b, 184185.
Constana (Romania); Bessos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 6.
Constana (Romania); Bitalios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 6.
2012, 180, 185.

ParaschivGrigore 2013, 169171.
Zagaranin 2014, 36
2013, 191, 207, fig. 10; AkrivopoulouSlampeas 2014, 289.
TzavellaTrainorMaher 2014, 93
2010, 171, 180, fig. 3.
16
Florin Curta
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
Constana (Romania); Bitalios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 6.

Constana (Romania); Boutzios Mezeziou; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1987a, 205; Barnea 1987b, 79.
Constana (Romania); Conimundus, stratelates; 550567; Barnea 1985, 239240.
Constana (Romania); Delmatios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 7.
Constana (Romania); Diakonos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1992, 291.
Constana (Romania); Eubodius; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 8
Constana (Romania); Eugenios; 6th7th c.; private tessera; Barnea 2005, 8.
Constana (Romania); Eugenios; 6th7th c.; private tessera; Barnea 2005, 8.
Constana (Romania); Euodios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 8.
Constana (Romania); Euresios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 9.
Constana (Romania); Eutychios; 5th6th c.; commercial seal; Barnea 1992, 283.
Constana (Romania); Gabriel, 6th c.; Barnea 1984, 99.
Constana (Romania); Georgios; 6th7th c.; Metaxa 1915, 34.
Constana (Romania); Georgios; 6th7th c.; Knechtel 1915, 9192.
Constana (Romania); Georgios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 10.
Constana (Romania); Georgios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 10.
Constana (Romania); Georgios, skribon; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1995a, 9899.
Constana (Romania); Germanos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 11.
Constana (Romania); Ioannes; 6th7th c.; Knechtel 1915, 87.
Constana (Romania); Ioannes; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1992, 292.
Constana (Romania); Ioannes, chartularius; 6th; Barnea 1987b, 7879.
Constana (Romania); Ioulianes; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 13.
Constana (Romania); Kallistratos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 14.
Constana (Romania); Konstantinos; 7th c.; Knechtel 1915, 88.
Constana (Romania); Leoninos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 14.
Constana (Romania); Leoninos; 6th7th c.; same boulloterion as no. 54; Barnea 2005, 14.
Constana (Romania); Leontios; 6th7th c.; Knechtel 1915, 89.
Constana (Romania); Leontios; 6th7th c.; Knechtel 1915, 90.
Constana (Romania); Leontios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1992, 293.
Constana (Romania); Leontios; first half of the 7th c.; Barnea 2005, 15.
Constana (Romania); Leontios, a secretis; 6th-7th c.; Barnea 1985, 241242.
Constana (Romania); Leontios, patrikios; 6th c.; Barnea 1985, 241.
Constana (Romania); Markos; 5th6th c.; Barnea 2005, 17.
Constana (Romania); Markos Klimax; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 1617.
Constana (Romania); Mattheos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1992, 293.
Constana (Romania); Meanter; 5th6t c.; commercial seal; Barnea 1992, 284.
Constana (Romania); Nikodemos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 17.
Constana (Romania); Nonnos; 6th c.; Barnea 2005, 18.
Constana (Romania); Octavianus, a secretis; 6th c.; Barnea 2005, 18.
Constana (Romania); Pantoleon; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1995a, 98.
Constana (Romania); Paulos; 6th c.; commercial seal; Barnea 1992, 285.
Constana (Romania); Paulos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1992, 294-295.
Constana (Romania); Paulos; 6th c.; Barnea 1996, 216.
Amphorae and Seals
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
100.
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
106.
107.
108.
109.
110.
111.
112.
113.
114.
115.
116.
117.
118.
119.
120.
121.
122.
123.
17
Constana (Romania); Paulos; 6th c.; Barnea 2005, 19.

Constana (Romania); Paulos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 19.
Constana (Romania); Paulos; 6th c.; rectangular commercial seal; Barnea 2005, 19.
Constana (Romania); Paulos, chartularius; 6th c.; Barnea 1992, 289.
Constana (Romania); Paulos, patrikios; 6th c.; Barnea 2005, 19.
Constana (Romania); Paxamos, candidatus; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 19.
Constana (Romania); Petros; 6th; commercial seal; Barnea 2005, 20.
Constana (Romania); Petros; 6th; Knechtel 1915, 90-91.
Constana (Romania); Petros; 6th; Barnea 2005, 21.
Constana (Romania); Petros; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1995a, 99.
Constana (Romania); Petros; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 20.
Constana (Romania); Petros; 7th c.; Knechtel 1915, 89.
Constana (Romania); Photios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1995a, 97.
Constana (Romania); Photios, patrikios; 6th c.; Knechtel 1915, 8485.
Constana (Romania); Photios, patrikios; 6th c.; Metaxa 1915, 3334.
Constana (Romania); Phterotos; 5th6th c.; commercial seal; Barnea 1992, 283284.
Constana (Romania); Priskos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1995a, 100.
Constana (Romania); Sabbas; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 26.
Constana (Romania); Sergios; 6th7th c.; Metaxa 1915, 34.
Constana (Romania); Sergios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 23.
Constana (Romania); Theodoros, praefectus insularum; 6th7th c.; Cantacuzne 19271932, 611.
Constana (Romania); Theodoros; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1992, 291.
Constana (Romania); unknown; 6th c.; commercial seal; Barnea 1992, 285286.
Constana (Romania); Theodoros; 5th6th c.; private tessera; Barnea 2005, 24.
Constana (Romania); Theodoros; 5th6th c.; private tessera; Barnea 2005, 24.
Constana (Romania); Theodorus, primisingularis; second half of the 6th c.; Barnea 2005, 24.
Constana (Romania); Theodosius; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 24.
Constana (Romania); Theodosius, apo eparchon; 7th c.; Knechtel 1915, 85.
Constana (Romania); Theodosius, apo eparchon; 7th c; the same boulloterion as no. 103;
Barnea 1960, 323324.
Constana (Romania); Theodosius, apo eparchon; 7th c.; the same boulloterion as no. 103;
Barnea 2005, 25.
Constana (Romania); Theodosius, illustris; 6th c.; Barnea 1987b, 77.
Constana (Romania); Theodosius, illustris; 6th c.; Barnea 2005, 25.
Constana (Romania); Theodoulos; 6th7th c.; Metaxa 1915, 34.
Constana (Romania); Theodoulos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1992, 292.
Constana (Romania); Theophylaktos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 26.
Constana (Romania); Theoros; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 26.
Constana (Romania); Theotimos, bishop; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 26.
Constana (Romania); Thomas; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 26.
Constana (Romania); Thomas; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 26.
Constana (Romania); unknown, patrikios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 28.
Constana (Romania); unknown; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 28.
Dobri dol (near Varna, Bulgaria); Georgios; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 717718.
18
Florin Curta
124.
125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
132.
133.
134.
135.
136.
137.
138.
139.
140.
141.
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147.
148.
149.
150.
151.
152.
153.
154.
155.
156.
157.
158.
159.
160.
161.
162.
163.
164.
165.
166.
167.
168.
169.
170.
Dobri dol (near Varna, Bulgaria); Georgios; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 718.
Dobri dol (near Varna, Bulgaria); Ioustos; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 723724.
Dobri dol (near Varna, Bulgaria); unknown, skribon; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 748.
Dorkovo (near Pazardzhik, Bulgaria); Theoktistos, patrikios; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 756.
Dropla (near Varna, Bulgaria); Priskos; 6th c.; Iordanov 2009, 731732.
Dropla (near Varna, Bulgaria); Eusebios; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 719.
Dropla (near Varna, Bulgaria); Georgios; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 717.
Dropla (near Varna, Bulgaria); Ioannes; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 726.
Dropla (near Varna, Bulgaria); Komentiolos (?); 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 727.
Dropla (near Varna, Bulgaria); Theodoros, patrikios; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2006, 186
Garchinovo (near Popovo, Bulgaria); Priskos; 6th c.; Iordanov 2009, 732
Goliam Izvor (near Haskovo, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 735.
Gorica (near Pomorie, Bulgaria); Paulos; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 731.
Gradishteto (near Simeonovgrad, Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 78.
Grozdevo (near Varna, Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 79.
Grozdevo (near Varna, Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 79.
Grozdevo (near Varna, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 735736.
Grozdevo (near Varna, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 736.
Harmanli (Haskovo region, Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 79.
Histria (Constana district, Romania); Theodotos; Nubar 1964.
Iavorovo (near Asenovgrad, Bulgaria); Adrianos, vicar of Thrace; 6th c.; Iordanov 2009,
429430.
Isaccea (Romania); Anastasios, 6th c.; Barnea 1975, 161.
Isaccea (Romania); Cherson; 6th c.; Barnea 1996, 216.
Isaccea (Romania); Georgios; 7th c.; Barnea 1995a, 102.
Isaccea (Romania); Gregorios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1975, 160.
Isaccea (Romania); Ioannes; 7th c.; Barnea 1995a, 102-103.
Isaccea (Romania); Ioulianos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1975, 160.
Isaccea (Romania); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Schultz 1978, 100.
Isaccea (Romania); Kyrillos; commercial seal; 5th6th c.; Barnea 1975, 159.
Isaccea (Romania); Neikias, hypatos; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1975, 160.
Isaccea (Romania); Pergamon; 6th c.; Barnea 1985, 238.
Isaccea (Romania); Sergios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1990, 319.
Isaccea (Romania); Thettalos; 7th c.; Barnea 1996, 218.
Isaccea (Romania); unknown; 6th7th c.; Barnea 1990, 317, 319.
Izvoarele (Constana district, Romania); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Culic 1975, 246.
Izvoarele (Constana district, Romania); Leontios; 6th c.; Culic 1975, 261.
Izvoarele (Constana disrict, Romania); Montanos; 5th6th c.; Culic 1975, 242.
Izvoarele (Constana district, Romania); Patrikios (?); 6th c.; commercial seal; Culic 1979,
147.
Izvoarele (Constana district, Romania); Paulos (?); 6th c.; Culic 1975, 246.
Izvoarele (Constana district, Romania); Paulos (?); 6th c.; commercial seal; Culic 1975, 246.
Izvoarele (Constana disrict, Romania); Romylos (?); 6th7th c.; commercial seal; Culic
1979, 146.
Izvorovo (near Haskovo, Bulgaria); Lazaros; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 728.
Jurilovca (Tulcea district, Romania); Petros, ex consule, logothetes; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 21.
Kosharica (near Nesebr, Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2006, 80.
Kovachevec (near Popovo, Bulgaria); signet ring; Theodoros; 6th7th c.; 1994, 2223.
Amphorae and Seals
171.
172.
173.
174.
175.
176.
177.
178.
179.
180.
181.
182.
183.
184.
185.
186.
187.
188.
189.
190.
191.
192.
193.
194.
195.
196.
197.
198.
199.
200.
201.
202.
203.
204.
205.
206.
207.
208.
209.
210.
211.
212.
213.
214.
215.
216.
217.
218.
19
Krasen (near Ruse, Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 79.
Krasen (near Ruse, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 735
Krepcha (near Trgovishte, Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 78.
Krichim (near Plovdiv, Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527-565; 2011, no. 44d.
Louloudies (near Kitros, Greece); unknown, 6th7th c.; - 2011, 249.
Lovech (Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2012, 69.
Melnica (near Elkhovo, Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 81
Melnica (near Elkhovo, Bulgaria); Theodosios, apo hypaton; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 157.
Melnica (near Elkhovo, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 737.
Miladinovci (near Razgrad, Bulgaria); Ioannes; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 726.
Nesebr (Bulgaria); Andreas, metropolitan; 7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 584.
Nesebr (Bulgaria); Petros, apo hypaton, patrikios; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 157158.
Nesebr (Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 737.
Nikopolis (near Arta, Greece); Ianouarios; 6th c.; Papadopoulou 2011, 257259.
Nova Cherna (near Silistra, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 746.
Nova Nadezhda (near Haskovo, Bulgaria); Ioannes; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 727.
Nufru (Tulcea district, Romania); Kyriakos, apo hypaton; 7th c.; Barnea 2001, 107-108.
Pazardzhik (Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; 2011, no. 44e.
Plateia (Argolid Bay, Greece); Andronikos Athanasios; 7th c.; 1996, 18.
Plateia (Argolid Bay, Greece); Theodoulos; 7th c.; 1996, 19.
Pliska (near Shumen, Bulgaria); Priskos; 6th c.; Iordanov 2009, 732.
Podkova (near Krdzhali, Bulgaria); Nikolaos; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 731.
Pomorie (Bulgaria); Paulos; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 731.
Pomorie (Bulgaria); Anastasius I, emperor; 491518; Iordanov 2009, 78.
Pomorie (Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 80.
Pomorie (Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 741.
Preslav (near Shumen, Bulgaria); Ioannes Plagiotes, illoustrios; first half of the 7th c.;
Iordanov 2006, no. 424B.
Preslav (near Shumen, Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 939.
Preslav (near Shumen, Bulgaria); Paulos; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 731.
Preslav (near Shumen, Bulgaria); unknown; 5th6th c.; Iordanov 2009, 863.
Primorsko (near Burgas, Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 78.
Prosenik (near Burgas, Bulgaria); Sergios (?); 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 733.
Provadiia (Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 81.
Rish Pass (Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 738739.
Shivachevo (near Sliven, Bulgaria); Ioannes, notarios and vicar of Thrace; 6th c.; 1998, 94.
Shivachevo (near Sliven, Bulgaria); Ioannes, notarios and vicar of Thrace; 6th c.; 1998,
9495.
Shivachevo (near Sliven, Bulgaria); Leontios; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 729.
Shivachevo (near Sliven, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 738.
Shivachevo (near Sliven, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, no. 739.
Silistra (Bulgaria); Abramios; 7th c.; Barnea 1966, 279.
Silistra (Bulgaria); Andreas; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 715.
Silistra (Bulgaria); Ephesus; 6th c.; Barnea 1982, 202.
Silistra (Bulgaria); Epiphanios; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 719.
Silistra (Bulgaria); Grigorios; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 718719.
Silistra (Bulgaria); Ioannes, topoteretes; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 396.
Silistra (Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Gerasimova-Tomova 1992, 70.
20
Florin Curta
219.
220.
221.
222.
223.
224.
225.
226.
227.
228.
229.
230.
231.
232.
233.
234.
235.
236.
Silistra (Bulgaria); Petros, apo hypaton, patrikios; 6th7th c.; MititeluBarnea 1966, 45.
Silistra (Bulgaria); Phokas; 5th6th c.; Iordanov 2009, 734.
Silistra (Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 736.
Simeonovgrad (near Haskovo, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 756-757.
Slava Rus (Constana district, Romania); Philippikos, patrikios; 6th7th c.; Chiriac 2006.
Smetishteto (near Balchik, Bulgaria); unknown, 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 738.
Spetses (Argolid Bay, Greece); Gregorios, chartularius; 6th c.; 1996, 2324.
Spetses (Argolid Bay, Greece); Ioannes; 7th c.; 1996, 24.
Stan (near Novi Pazar, district of Shumen, Bulgaria); Onorios; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 731.
Stara Zagora (Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 81.
Sushina (near Shumen, Bulgaria); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; Iordanov 2009, 78
Topchiisko (near Aitos, Bulgaria); Priskos; 6th c.; Iordanov 2009, 732.
Veliko Trnovo (Bulgaria); Theodosios, apo hypaton; 6th-7th c.; IORDANOV 2012, 71.
Vetren (near Silistra, Bulgaria); Priskos; 6th c.; Iordanov 2009, 732
Vetren (near Silistra, Bulgaria); Theodoros; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 720721.
Zvean (near Mitrovic, Kosova); Justinian I, emperor; 527565; - 1980, 165.
Zlati Voivoda (near Sliven, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 736.
Zlati Voivoda (near Sliven, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 737.
237. Zlati Voivoda (near Sliven, Bulgaria); unknown; 6th7th c.; Iordanov 2009, 742.
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F. Curta - Amphorae and Seals. The Sub-Byzantine Avars and The Quaestura Exercitus

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AMPHOR AE AND SEALS: THE SUB -BYZANTINE

AVARS AND THE QU AEST UR A EXERCIT US

Amphorae and Seals

Mackensen 1992, 241; Karagiorgou 2001, 129130.

Fig. 1. The distribution in the Balkans of sixth- to early seventh-century Late

Amphorae and Seals

By contrast, out of 23 sites with LR2 amphorae in

Besides the specimens in Iordanovs corpus

Amphorae and Seals

Table 3. Seals of officials in the imperial administration

of Thrace, and another in Haemimons (Fig.

Amphorae and Seals

same person as the prefect (eparch) of the East

2011, 349; Brandes 2002, 264265.

antecessor Julian shortly after 555.48 According

Amphorae and Seals

That three out of six seals of military officers

Koch 1903, 34, 3739, 41, 45.

Table 6. Seals with honorary titles

Amphorae and Seals

the lands of the two Danube provinces included

POST SCR IPT U M

Amphorae and Seals

2012, 180, 185.

Constana (Romania); Bitalios; 6th7th c.; Barnea 2005, 6.

Amphorae and Seals

Constana (Romania); Paulos; 6th c.; Barnea 2005, 19.

Amphorae and Seals

The History of Menander the Guardsman. Introductory Essay, Text, Translation

Abadie-Reynal, C.: Les amphores protobyzantines dArgos (IVeVIe sicles).

Amphorae and Seals

des archologischen Instituts der ungarischen Akademie der Wissenschaften 14

Amphorae and Seals

Duval, N. Popovi, V. (eds): Cariin Grad. III. L'acropole et ses monuments

Amphorae and Seals

(ed.): From Late Antiquity to Early Byzantium. Proceedings of the Byzantinological

Amphorae and Seals

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