Basilakios (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans. Sigla: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μήτηρ Θεοῦ. Linear border.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
αγνη
βοηθοσ
τασι
λ...
Ἁγνὴ βοηθὸς τῷ Βασιλακίῳ
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.2365 |
---|---|
Diameter | 20.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 7. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Ἁγνὴ βοηθὸς τῷ Βασιλακίῳ.
May the Holy One be of help to Basilakios.
Commentary
The inscription is one syllable short of a twelve-syllable verse but was included by Wassiliou-Seibt in her corpus of metrical seals. It may express a simple statement, "The Holy One is the source of help to Basilakios," but we have translated it as a wish or prayer.