Nipsistiarios
Encyclopedia
The nipsistiarios was a Byzantine
court position and rank reserved for eunuchs
.
The office is first attested in a 7th-century seal, but was abandoned well before the 14th century, since it is not mentioned in the Book of Offices of pseudo-Kodinos. As his name shows (from Greek νίπτειν, "to wash hands"), the nipsistiarios was tasked with holding a gold, gem-encrusted water basin and assisting the Byzantine emperor in performing the ritual ablutions
before he exited the imperial palace or performed ceremonies. According to the Klētorologion
of 899, his insigne of office was a kamision (tunic
) embroidered with the figure of a basin in purple. In the Klētorologion, he ranks as the lowest in the hierarchy of the specifically eunuch dignities, below the koubikoularios, but in the 900s, there is a reference to the eunuch Samonas
being promoted from koubikoularios to nipsistiarios.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
court position and rank reserved for eunuchs
Eunuch
A eunuch is a person born male most commonly castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences...
.
The office is first attested in a 7th-century seal, but was abandoned well before the 14th century, since it is not mentioned in the Book of Offices of pseudo-Kodinos. As his name shows (from Greek νίπτειν, "to wash hands"), the nipsistiarios was tasked with holding a gold, gem-encrusted water basin and assisting the Byzantine emperor in performing the ritual ablutions
Ritual purification
Ritual purification is a feature of many religions. The aim of these rituals is to remove specifically defined uncleanliness prior to a particular type of activity, and especially prior to the worship of a deity...
before he exited the imperial palace or performed ceremonies. According to the Klētorologion
Kletorologion
The Klētorologion of Philotheos , is the longest and most important of the Byzantine lists of offices and court precedence . It was published in September of 899 during the reign of Emperor Leo VI the Wise by the otherwise unknown prōtospatharios and atriklinēs Philotheos...
of 899, his insigne of office was a kamision (tunic
Tunic
A tunic is any of several types of clothing for the body, of various lengths reaching from the shoulders to somewhere between the hips and the ankles...
) embroidered with the figure of a basin in purple. In the Klētorologion, he ranks as the lowest in the hierarchy of the specifically eunuch dignities, below the koubikoularios, but in the 900s, there is a reference to the eunuch Samonas
Samonas
Samonas was an Arab-born eunuch, who was captured by the Byzantines and became one of the most influential officials of the Byzantine Empire during the first decade of the 10th century.- Life :...
being promoted from koubikoularios to nipsistiarios.