Bronze Ring of a Grand Domestic

455, Lot: 727. Estimate $3000. Sold for $2300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Byzantine. Circa 11th-15th centuries. Bronze military ring (Internal diameter of ring: 22mm; weight: 18.23g). Ornate Æ ring with inscriptions. Circular ring face inscribed ΚЄ BOH/ΘE MЄГα/N ΔOMЄCT/HNKOKЄ/NCPO - (Lord, protect the commander-in-chief ...) in five lines within linear border; all within in cruciform frame, each end bar decorated with radiate symbol and joined by zig-zag line. Decoration divides band into two lines, each of which is inscribed. Left side reads ΔΗ(Ρ?)AOPAЄPC/ΘHAΠЄT; right side reads ΔЄξΟKOPαΓ/TOPOCΦPOα. As made, band broken and repaired in antiquity.

Purchased from Frank Kovacs in the 1980s (lot includes ticket with his reading of the inscription).

Apart from the first three lines, the reading of the remainder of the inscription appears undecipherable.

The Grand Domestic was the title given to the commanders-in-chief of the Byzantine army during the 11th to 15th centuries. It derived from the earlier office, Domestic of the Schools, a senior military postion which had been in existence since the eighth century AD. Toros is an Armenian given name, which derives from the Toros mountains in Turkey.