Basil imperial protospatharios and doux of Calabria (ninth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). In the quarters, inscription: Τσ|δλ. Indeterminate border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription in four lines. Wreath border.
βσι
λειβσ
πθSδκ
..λβ
Βασιλείῳ β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) δουκ(ὶ) [Κα]λαβ[ρίας]
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). In the quarters, inscription: Τσ|δλ. Indeterminate border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription in four lines. Wreath border.
βσι
λειβσ
πθSδκ
..λβ
Βασιλείῳ β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) δουκ(ὶ) [Κα]λαβ[ρίας]
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.50 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 23.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 4.1. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Βασιλείῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ δουκὶ Καλαβρίας.
Theotokos, help your servant Basil imperial protospatharios and doux of Calabria.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)
- Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
A similar seal, but seemingly from a different boulloterion, is published in Sig., 221, no. 6 (=Konstantopoulos, no. 116). Schlumberger (Sig., 220) also republishes two other speciemens with the same name and titles from an article by Salinas, but both appear to be unrelated to the bouloterion used to strike this seal.