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Basil vestes, judge of the Velum and of Paphlagonia (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

The Mother of God seated on a high backed throne with a medallion of Christ before her. Sigla preserved at left: ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

..κ̅εR,θ,
...ιλει
..στηκριτ,
.RηλουS
τησπαφλ΄
α.

[Θ(εοτό)]κε β(οή)θ(ει) [Βασ]ιλείῳ [βέ]στῃ, κριτ(ῇ) [τ]οῦ βήλου (καὶ) τῆς Παφλ(αγ)[ον]ήα[ς]

Obverse

The Mother of God seated on a high backed throne with a medallion of Christ before her. Sigla preserved at left: ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. Border of dots.

..κ̅εR,θ,
...ιλει
..στηκριτ,
.RηλουS
τησπαφλ΄
α.

[Θ(εοτό)]κε β(οή)θ(ει) [Βασ]ιλείῳ [βέ]στῃ, κριτ(ῇ) [τ]οῦ βήλου (καὶ) τῆς Παφλ(αγ)[ον]ήα[ς]

Accession number BZS.1947.2.128
Diameter 24.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 4, no. 11.8.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει Βασιλείῳ βέστῃ, κριτῇ τοῦ βήλου καὶ τῆς Παφλαγονήας.

Mother of God, help Basil vestes, judge of the Velum and of Paphlagonia.

Commentary

The restoration of the last word is problematic because the abbreviations are unusual. Another possibility would be Παφλ(αγονίας) [τῷ] Ἠλ[ίᾳ], which is also uncertain and has the disadvantage of introducing further uncertainties. Be that as it may, the name of the province, Paphlagonia, is secure. We know the seal of a Basil protospatharios and judge of Paphlagonia (SBS 6, 1999, 130).

Bibliography