ABSTRACT
To other inconsistencies in this latter source,3 the following can be added:4 avayco does not fit at all as a verb describing a shield-raising. However, it makes good sense in connection with the Tribunal of the Kampos. So (with the
1 This is probably the historically accurate version: the rebel soldiers first recognized Phokas as their commander-in-chief and in a second phase raise him on a shield. They demonstrated therefore that by these means their part o f the imperial ceremony, i.e., the military part, was already completed and that Phokas would be emperor as they wished. Indeed, the military did not play any further role in Phokas’ coronation outside Constan tinople. Before the gates o f Constantinople only the ‘remaining part’ was performed! Cf. the author’s detailed documentation in Kaiser Konstantin VI. Die Legitimation einer fremden und der Versuch einer eigenen Herrschaft (Munich, 1978), pp. 347-49. Theophyl. Sim. assesses this shield-raising and the connected acclamation as ektottgoc; (8.7.7, 8.296.13f, [de Boor]: etti aonfSoc; te uyoc; c^apavTEc; Eucpqpouv ektottox; Tqv avayopsuoiv). This is exactly the reason why Herakleios, who had to distance him self from the ‘usurper and murderer’ Phokas, did forgo being raised on a shield, and thus it fell into disuse for centuries.
