Madara rider
Bulgar Society

Печат на Тервел / Tervel kaisar (705-718)

BZS.1958.106.4932

Obverse

Bust of Tervel wearing a beard and long hair. He holds a spear over his right shoulder and a shield on his left; the shield shows a horseman attacking a fallen foe. There is a six-rayed star on either side of Tervel's portrait. Wreath border.


Reverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). Inscription in the four quarters. Wreath border.

τ|ερβελλι|
κσαροσ

Θεοτόκε βοήθει

Τερβελλίου καίσαρος


Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει. Τερβελλίου καίσαρος.

Mother of God, lend Thy aid. (Seal of) Tervel, kaisar.


Commentary

This is the Bulgar khan who helped Justinian II to regain the throne in 705 and received the rank of kaisar in return. Oikonomides has noted the resemblance of Tervel's portrait to the imperial portraits on the solidi of the emperor Constantine IV (652-685).
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