Two Unusual Byzantine Lead Seals and the Question of the Boulloteria craftsmen

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.