Basil ostiarios and psaltes of the Great Church (eleventh/twelfth century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans. At left and right, sigla: Μ̅Θ̅: Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εοῦ). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines preceded by decoration, the last letter between two horizontal bars. Border of dots.
θκε,θ,
ασιλ,
οστιαρ,S
ψαλτ,τησ
Θ̅Υ̅εκλ
Σ
Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) Βασιλ(εί)ῳ ὀστιαρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) ψάλτ(ῃ) τῆς Θ(εο)ῦ Μ(ε)γ(άλης) Ἐκλ(η)σ(ίας)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans. At left and right, sigla: Μ̅Θ̅: Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εοῦ). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines preceded by decoration, the last letter between two horizontal bars. Border of dots.
θκε,θ,
ασιλ,
οστιαρ,S
ψαλτ,τησ
Θ̅Υ̅εκλ
Σ
Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) Βασιλ(εί)ῳ ὀστιαρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) ψάλτ(ῃ) τῆς Θ(εο)ῦ Μ(ε)γ(άλης) Ἐκλ(η)σ(ίας)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.2111 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19.0 mm; field: 13.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 42.44a; Laurent, Corpus 5.1: no. 140 (Vienna 80 illustrated). |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει Βασιλείῳ ὀστιαρίῳ καὶ ψάλτῃ τῆς Θεοῦ Μεγάλης Ἐκλησίας.
Mother of God, help Basil ostiarios and psaltes of the Great Church of God.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
If this specimen is parallel with the Vienna seal, then the sigla on the obverse would be ̅ΘΥ̅.