Thepapias (Ancient Greek:παπίας) was aeunuch official in theByzantine court, responsible for the security and maintenance of the buildings of the imperial palaces inConstantinople. He commanded an extensive staff and performed in important role in palace ceremonies. In thePalaiologan period, the honorary title ofmegas papias ('grandpapias') was created and awarded to senior aristocrats.
The term is etymologically connected toπάππος orπαπᾶς (lit. 'father, priest'). It is first attested in a seal dated to circa 550–650, and next recorded in the chronicle ofTheophanes the Confessor for the year 780.[1] There were threepapiai, all eunuchs: one for theGreat Palace itself (παπίας τοῦ μεγάλου παλατίου,papias tou megalou palatiou), and two others for its adjuncts, theMagnaura and the palace ofDaphne (theπαπίας τῆς Μαγναῦρας andπαπίας τῆς Δάφνης). The latter was created by EmperorMichael III (r. 842–867), while the former is attested only in Philotheos'sKletorologion of 899.[1][2][3] Thepapias of the Great Palace was a very important official. Often styled 'grandpapias' (μέγας παπίας,megas papias),[4] and usually holding the rank ofprotospatharios,[5] he was the concierge of the palace and responsible for its security. He held the keys to the doors of the palace (and of the palace prison) and opened them every morning together with themegas hetaireiarches.[4] He thus controlled physical access to the imperial quarters, and was an important element in any conspiracy against the emperor's life, as demonstrated in the usurpations ofMichael II in 820 andBasil I in 867.[1][6] It is possible that initially the other twopapiai were subordinate to thepapias of the Great Palace.[7][8]
Like all senior palace functionaries, thepapias of the Great Palace also fulfilled certain ceremonial duties. Aside from the ritual unlocking of the palace doors, he for instance formally ended the daily imperial audiences by rattling the keys, the symbol of his office. At ceremonies for the promotion of officials, hecensed the main audience hall of theChrysotriklinos and the emperor, and on August 1, he carried a cross in procession through the streets of the capital, visiting the most wealthy citizens and receiving donations.[1][9]
By the 12th century, thepapias was probably opened up to non-eunuchs as well. Newpapiai for theChalke and the newBlachernae Palace are also attested in the 12th century.[10] In thePalaiologan period, themegas papias ('grandpapias') became a specific dignity awarded to senior members of the aristocracy. In the 13th century, it was probably an actual office, but it became a purely honorary title in the 14th century.[1][11][12] In the mid-14th centuryBook of Offices ofPseudo-Kodinos, the title occupies the 22nd position in the Byzantine imperial hierarchy,[13] and its insignia were: a woodenstaff (dikanikion) with alternating gold and red-gold knobs, askiadionhat withembroidery of theklapoton type, another type of hat calledskaranikon of white and gold silk with gold-wire embroidery and images of the emperor in the front and back, and a silk robe of office orkabbadion.[14]
Thepapiai were in charge of an extensive staff detailed to the cleaning, lighting, and general maintenance of the each palace, aided by a deputy, theDeuteros (δεύτερος, 'the second one'), who was separately responsible for the safekeeping of imperialfurniture and insignia.[5][15] The subordinates of thepapias included:
Nicolas Oikonomides also adds theminsourator (μινσουράτωρ), an official in charge of the Byzantine emperor's tent on campaign, to the subordinates of thepapias.[1] Similar staffs must have also existed for thepapiai of the Magnaura and the Daphne Palace.[3]
