Papers by Pantelis Charalampakis
Archaeologia Bulgarica 28.3, 2024
The study aims to present Greek textual graffiti from Church B4 at the medieval rock-cut complex ... more The study aims to present Greek textual graffiti from Church B4 at the medieval rock-cut complex at Murfatlar (Constanţa, Romania), in order to illustrate how the Greek script “found its place” in the varied environment of Murfatlar – both in the physical (within the church interior) and cultural sense (among the other scripts used there). This work is part of a larger project on Murfatlar financed by NAIM-BAS and through the National Scientific Programme “Development and Promotion of Bulgarian Studies Abroad” of the Мinistry of Education and Science of Bulgaria.
Under # 1 the author publishes for the first time five rows in Greek, each written by a different hand, reading INBI (“Jesus from Nazareth, King of the Jews”) and “Amen”. The lettering does not help to establish a certain date. Under # 2 is presented the so-called “Greek inscription with date”, previously examined and debated in literature, to which the author proposes a new reading based on personal in situ observations and the results from the recent documentation of the site. The graffito, placed above the entrance to the burial crypt, was likely related to commemoration of the dead. Based
on paleography, it should be dated in the end of the 10th c. Under # 3 is an inscription mentioning “Joseph the priest”, also dated to the end of the 10th c., introducing some corrections to Barnea’s original drawing. The Greek inscriptions of Murfatlar, even if less known and studied than the other textual and pictorial graffiti, are of crucial importance for the research on scripts and writing in the complex, as they reveal details about the scribes and their cultural background, and add valuable information to the relative chronology and interpretation of the monument.
The medieval settlement near Orlovo village, Haskovo region (site 42 along the gas transmission pipeline Greece – Bulgaria), ed. V. Bikić, V. Grigorov, G. Grozdanova (Archaeologia Bulgarica Supplements 6.1),. Sofia, 2023
Съдържание / Content пен стана възможно благодарение на проектно финансиране от страна на НАИМ-БА... more Съдържание / Content пен стана възможно благодарение на проектно финансиране от страна на НАИМ-БАН, в периода 2021-2022 г. Искрена благодарност към редакторите за техните конструктивни бележки и времето, което отделиха за ръкописа.
Archaeologia Bulgarica 27.3, 2023
The paper presents a Byzantine lead seal found in the area of Sozopol, Bulgaria. The specimen sho... more The paper presents a Byzantine lead seal found in the area of Sozopol, Bulgaria. The specimen shows Christ Philanthropos on one side and Saint Demetrios on the other, both accompanied by inscriptions, and is dated in the second half of the 12 th c. It is related to the famous Constantinopolitan monastery of Christ Philanthropos, established by emperor Alexios I Komnenos. The seal provides further evidence on the connection between religious foundations in the capital and in the provincial area of Sozopol (medieval Sozopolis) during the 12 th c. The study also includes a catalogue of seals related to the said monastery.
Byzantina Symmeikta 33, 2023
This study focuses on the publication of - and commentary on - three Byzantine lead seals that ar... more This study focuses on the publication of - and commentary on - three Byzantine lead seals that are part of a larger registered private collection. The first two are remarkable because of their owners' names, rarely attested in Late Antiquity and the Middle Byzantine period: Βιάτωρ / Viator (droungarios, date: ca. 650-700) and Genethlios (stratelates, date: ca. 750-825). The third, which belonged to a certain Ioannes, taboullarios (date: ca. 650-725), demonstrates a mixture of Greek and Latin symbols in a Greek inscription and, perhaps, is among the latest of this kind.
Contributions to the Bulgarian Archeology | Приноси към българската археология 12, 2022
The photographic documentation conducted by the current research team is the third such documenta... more The photographic documentation conducted by the current research team is the third such documentation to be made on a stone block with a graffito, found by Stancho Stanchev (Vaklinov). The purpose of the documentation was to juxtapose a number of techniques in order to choose the most efficient from among them, i.e. one where subjective visual perception is minimized, and at the same time, one that renders the greatest number of details that had remained unnoticed despite previous scientific observation. The chosen techniques were: Reflectance Transformation Imaging and 3D Laser Scanning. The rendered results, as it became apparent during data processing, complement each other in an excellent way. The new details from the latest photographic documentation of the graffito can be divided into: one fully unknown figure and details of already known figures; letter characters, most of which in front, above and behind the figure of the rider.
International Congress ΧΕΡΣΩΝΟΣ ΘΕΜΑΤΑ: ИМПЕРИЯ И ПОЛИС, Sevastopol’ – Balaklava, May 29 - June 3, 2021, Materialy nauchnoj konferentsii, Simferopol’ 2021, 163-170, 2021
Numizmatika, Sfragistika i Epigrafika 16, 2020
The purpose of this paper is to present numismatic and sigillographic finds from the archaeologic... more The purpose of this paper is to present numismatic and sigillographic finds from the archaeological excavations conducted in the past few years in the fortress at the Vratsata Pass, next to the modern town of Vratsa in Northwest Bulgaria. The specimens of coins listed here date back from the end of the 5 th until nearly the end of the 6 th century AD; and a lead seal of the emperor Justinian I was also found at the same site. All these offer a valuable insight to the significance of the fortress in the Late Antique and the Early Byzantine periods 1 .
A funerary inscription of Chilbudius, magister militum per Thraciam?
Revue des Etudes Byzantines, 2019
This is the first thorough prosopographic study on the Radenoi, a renowned and prolific lineage t... more This is the first thorough prosopographic study on the Radenoi, a renowned and prolific lineage that occupied a long-lasting prominent position in Byzantine society from the early 10th until the 15th century, which has thus far evaded scholarly attention. Literary and sigillographic evidence (published and unpublished) shows the Radenoi serving in high offices of the imperial and ecclesiastic administration, e.g., commander of the fleet, chief of the imperial treasure or metropolitan. They were also distinguished founders or proprietors of prestigious religious establishments, noblemen, businessmen, and landowners, while several Radenai ladies left a legacy of seals or portraits which are a testament of their distinguished position among the upper class of Byzantine aristocracy. Being allies or close friends of other illustrious families, they overcame the political crisis of the mid-11th century and managed to maintain their social status after the Komnenian reform. In the fatal beginning of the 13th century, one of the Radenoi was even about to become emperor.
KAREN , 2019
This paper presents the case study of Kallistos (reportedly a member of the Melissenos family), o... more This paper presents the case study of Kallistos (reportedly a member of the Melissenos family), one of the Forty-two Byzantine officials captured by the Arabs in the aftermath of the siege of Amorion in 838. The person in question has been recorded in scholarly literature as a military officer active in Koloneia (or, according to other views, in the themes of the Anatolikoi or the Armeniakoi). A closer examination of extant evidence, however, may suggest that he never existed-or at least not as a military commander in Koloneia-and his mention in the sources was the result of a misunderstanding and/or fictional writing related to hagiography, politics, or family prestige.
Journal of Balkan and Black Sea Studies 2.3, 2019
This paper presents part of the Project entitled Mobility of people and families in Byzantium's n... more This paper presents part of the Project entitled Mobility of people and families in Byzantium's northeastern frontier. A contribution to the prosopography of the military and political administration in the Armeniakoi area (7th-11th c.). The ongoing research on Pontos brings together, for the first time, all the evidence on the administration and especially the prosopography of the region. The collected material provides useful information on the careers and mobility of individuals and families alike. The presented brief case studies contribute to the better understanding of the administrative and social history of the Pontos in Byzantine times.
Byzantina Symmeikta 29, 2019
ΧΕΡΣΩΝΟΣ ΘΕΜΑΤΑ: Империя и Полис. XI Международный Византийский Семинар: Материалы Научной конференции, Sevastopol 2019, 2019
Seleukeia was a separate administrative unit already in the late seventh century, headed in the b... more Seleukeia was a separate administrative unit already in the late seventh century, headed in the beginning by a droungarios. Three of the five known droungarioi have become known only recently, through seals located in auction catalogues: two anonymi, the second maybe Sisinnios, and a certain Theodoros. The problematic Taktikon Uspenskij does not mention Seleukeia, but we know that it was a kleisoura since the first half of the ninth century. Many kleisourarchai are known from the early ninth century, among them Leon, first with the title spatharokandidatos and later as protospatharios, and Akindynos. The existence of civil officials connected to the thematic administration (protonotarioi, chartoularioi and kritai) show that Seleukeia was an autonomous administrative unit.
Fifteen kleisourarchai are known until the early 10th century, among them a certain Eustathios. Two of his seals were published as anonymi, but after a comparison, it was found out that they are from the same boulloterion as the other seals of Eustathios.
Seleukeia was upgraded to a theme under Romanos I Lekapenos at some time between 927 and 934. In total between the mid-10th c. and the mid-eleventh century 14 strategoi are known. Two unknown strategoi of Seleukeia are presented here: Michael and Theophylaktos. In the eleventh century Seleukeia was included in the doukaton of Antioch. The office of the kritai of Seleukeia was combined to that of megas kourator of the nearby Tarsos, like in the case of Ioannes Kalopsychos.
The metropolis of Seleukeia in Isauria was established in the fifth century and it was subordinate to the Patriarchate of Antioch. Saint Thekla was the most important venerated saint in the area. We have recorded seventeen metropolitans of Seleukeia and today we present, among others, an unpublished seal of Theophanes, metropolitan, dated in the second half of the eleventh century, from the State Numismatic Collection in Munich.
Tzirithon family CHARALAMPAKIS Pantelis http://dx.
Abstract: The author presents two Byzantine lead seals of great interest. The first one was issue... more Abstract: The author presents two Byzantine lead seals of great interest. The first one was issued by Stephanos, magistros (last third or last quarter of the 9th century), who can be identified as the cousin of patriarch Photios. At the lower part of the reverse, below the inscription, there is a puzzling abbreviation or monogram, consisting of at least four letters, which could be the boulloterion craftsman's personal signature. The second seal was issued by a certain Theodoros, dioiketes (late 9th – early 10th century). On the reverse, above and below the inscription, one reads the letters E and Λ respectively. These letters can be interpreted either as a mark of the boulloterion craftsman, or as an unusual abbreviation for the geographical name Hellas, meaning that this official was dioiketes of the theme of Hellas.
Резюме: Авторът представя два твърде интересни византийски печата. Първият от тях принадлежи на Стефанос, магистър (от последната трета или четвърт на 9 в.), който може да бъде идентифициран като братовчеда на патриарх Фотий. В долната част на реверса, под надписа, се намира озадачаващо съкращение или монограм от поне четири букви, което би могло да бъде личният подпис на майстора на булотириона. Вторият печат е издаден от някой си Теодор, диойкит (от края на 9 в. – началото на 10 в.). На реверса, над и под надписа, могат да се прочетат съответно Ε и Λ. Тези букви могат да се интерпретират или като знак на майстора на булотириона, или като необичайно съкращение на географското име Елада, което би означавало, че този чиновник е бил диойкит на тема Елада.
On the toponymy and prosopography of some minor military-administrative districts in Byzantium. K... more On the toponymy and prosopography of some minor military-administrative districts in Byzantium. Kas(s)e, Vindaion, Mauron Oros, KAREN 3 (2017), 27-49
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Papers by Pantelis Charalampakis
Under # 1 the author publishes for the first time five rows in Greek, each written by a different hand, reading INBI (“Jesus from Nazareth, King of the Jews”) and “Amen”. The lettering does not help to establish a certain date. Under # 2 is presented the so-called “Greek inscription with date”, previously examined and debated in literature, to which the author proposes a new reading based on personal in situ observations and the results from the recent documentation of the site. The graffito, placed above the entrance to the burial crypt, was likely related to commemoration of the dead. Based
on paleography, it should be dated in the end of the 10th c. Under # 3 is an inscription mentioning “Joseph the priest”, also dated to the end of the 10th c., introducing some corrections to Barnea’s original drawing. The Greek inscriptions of Murfatlar, even if less known and studied than the other textual and pictorial graffiti, are of crucial importance for the research on scripts and writing in the complex, as they reveal details about the scribes and their cultural background, and add valuable information to the relative chronology and interpretation of the monument.
Fifteen kleisourarchai are known until the early 10th century, among them a certain Eustathios. Two of his seals were published as anonymi, but after a comparison, it was found out that they are from the same boulloterion as the other seals of Eustathios.
Seleukeia was upgraded to a theme under Romanos I Lekapenos at some time between 927 and 934. In total between the mid-10th c. and the mid-eleventh century 14 strategoi are known. Two unknown strategoi of Seleukeia are presented here: Michael and Theophylaktos. In the eleventh century Seleukeia was included in the doukaton of Antioch. The office of the kritai of Seleukeia was combined to that of megas kourator of the nearby Tarsos, like in the case of Ioannes Kalopsychos.
The metropolis of Seleukeia in Isauria was established in the fifth century and it was subordinate to the Patriarchate of Antioch. Saint Thekla was the most important venerated saint in the area. We have recorded seventeen metropolitans of Seleukeia and today we present, among others, an unpublished seal of Theophanes, metropolitan, dated in the second half of the eleventh century, from the State Numismatic Collection in Munich.
Резюме: Авторът представя два твърде интересни византийски печата. Първият от тях принадлежи на Стефанос, магистър (от последната трета или четвърт на 9 в.), който може да бъде идентифициран като братовчеда на патриарх Фотий. В долната част на реверса, под надписа, се намира озадачаващо съкращение или монограм от поне четири букви, което би могло да бъде личният подпис на майстора на булотириона. Вторият печат е издаден от някой си Теодор, диойкит (от края на 9 в. – началото на 10 в.). На реверса, над и под надписа, могат да се прочетат съответно Ε и Λ. Тези букви могат да се интерпретират или като знак на майстора на булотириона, или като необичайно съкращение на географското име Елада, което би означавало, че този чиновник е бил диойкит на тема Елада.
Under # 1 the author publishes for the first time five rows in Greek, each written by a different hand, reading INBI (“Jesus from Nazareth, King of the Jews”) and “Amen”. The lettering does not help to establish a certain date. Under # 2 is presented the so-called “Greek inscription with date”, previously examined and debated in literature, to which the author proposes a new reading based on personal in situ observations and the results from the recent documentation of the site. The graffito, placed above the entrance to the burial crypt, was likely related to commemoration of the dead. Based
on paleography, it should be dated in the end of the 10th c. Under # 3 is an inscription mentioning “Joseph the priest”, also dated to the end of the 10th c., introducing some corrections to Barnea’s original drawing. The Greek inscriptions of Murfatlar, even if less known and studied than the other textual and pictorial graffiti, are of crucial importance for the research on scripts and writing in the complex, as they reveal details about the scribes and their cultural background, and add valuable information to the relative chronology and interpretation of the monument.
Fifteen kleisourarchai are known until the early 10th century, among them a certain Eustathios. Two of his seals were published as anonymi, but after a comparison, it was found out that they are from the same boulloterion as the other seals of Eustathios.
Seleukeia was upgraded to a theme under Romanos I Lekapenos at some time between 927 and 934. In total between the mid-10th c. and the mid-eleventh century 14 strategoi are known. Two unknown strategoi of Seleukeia are presented here: Michael and Theophylaktos. In the eleventh century Seleukeia was included in the doukaton of Antioch. The office of the kritai of Seleukeia was combined to that of megas kourator of the nearby Tarsos, like in the case of Ioannes Kalopsychos.
The metropolis of Seleukeia in Isauria was established in the fifth century and it was subordinate to the Patriarchate of Antioch. Saint Thekla was the most important venerated saint in the area. We have recorded seventeen metropolitans of Seleukeia and today we present, among others, an unpublished seal of Theophanes, metropolitan, dated in the second half of the eleventh century, from the State Numismatic Collection in Munich.
Резюме: Авторът представя два твърде интересни византийски печата. Първият от тях принадлежи на Стефанос, магистър (от последната трета или четвърт на 9 в.), който може да бъде идентифициран като братовчеда на патриарх Фотий. В долната част на реверса, под надписа, се намира озадачаващо съкращение или монограм от поне четири букви, което би могло да бъде личният подпис на майстора на булотириона. Вторият печат е издаден от някой си Теодор, диойкит (от края на 9 в. – началото на 10 в.). На реверса, над и под надписа, могат да се прочетат съответно Ε и Λ. Тези букви могат да се интерпретират или като знак на майстора на булотириона, или като необичайно съкращение на географското име Елада, което би означавало, че този чиновник е бил диойкит на тема Елада.
The introductory chapter (Part I) describes the aims and the methodological principles of the TAKTIKON Research Project, addresses some key questions concerning the institution of the Byzantine themata in relation to the results presented in the volume, and offers a description of the TAKTIKON online database (O. Karagiorgou).
Part II includes a paper on the terms “Eoa, Anatole, Anatolikoi” in the Byzantine literary tradition (A. Kontogiannopoulou), and detailed studies on the strategoi of Hellas (O. Karagiorgou), and the prosopography and administrative structure of Opsikion (C. Malatras), the Anatolikoi (C. Malatras), and the Kibyrraiotai (P. Charalampakis), based on the evidence of sigillographic and non-sigillographic sources. The studies on Hellas and the three Asia Minor themata are accompanied by detailed chronological catalogues of thematic officials and complete records of a total of 1110 relevant thematic molybdoboulla. These were put together by the TAKTIKON research team during inspection of sigillographic collections and the meticulous study of relevant publications. More than 80 (published and unpublished) state and private sigillographic collections in 17 countries, as well as the (printed and online) sale catalogues of more than 40 auction houses have been studied, so far, for the purposes of the TAKTIKON Research Project.
Parts III and IV of the volume present papers by the participants of the One-day International Workshop at the Academy of Athens: N. Alekseienko (Correspondents of Byzantine Cherson), O. Alf’orov (Seals of Eustratios Chrysoberges), V. Bulgurlu (Seals from the Museum of Miletos), J.-C. Cheynet (Sceaux parisiens; Sceaux dans la collection Savvas Kofopoulos, Lesbos), N. Elam (Seals from eleven museums in Turkey), E. Güzel Erdoğan and V. Prigent (Sceaux au musée d’Adana), E. Stepanova (Seals from the Hermitage), I. Jordanov (Byzantine Eastern armies in the Balkans), T. Kourempanas (Σφραγίδεςμε απεικονίσεις αετών), V. Stepanenko (The family of Artzruni) and Z. Zhekova (Thematic seals from Bulgaria). The authors discuss more than 230 Byzantine lead seals (in their overwhelming majority previously unpublished), kept in private and state collections in Bulgaria, France, Greece, Russia, and Ukraine, which are relevant to the administration and the prosopography of Byzantine Asia Minor.