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Basil (Lekapenos), endoxotatos proedros of the Senate and parakoimomenos of the emperor (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

An inscription beginning within concentric circles of dots along the circumference and continuing in the five lines inscribed in the field.

..εοηθειασιλ... 

.ν..
..τατ
προερ
τησσυγ
κλητ

[Κ(ύρι)]ε βοήθει Βασιλ[είῳ ἐ]ν[δοξο]τάτῳ προέδρῳ τῆς συγκλήτου

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. A border of pellets within concentric borders of dots.

...
ρΑκοιμ.
μεντφι
λοχρ,εσ
ποτου

[(καὶ) πα]ρακοιμ[ω]μέν(ῳ) τοῦ φιλοχρ(ίστου) δεσπότου

Obverse

An inscription beginning within concentric circles of dots along the circumference and continuing in the five lines inscribed in the field.

..εοηθειασιλ... 

.ν..
..τατ
προερ
τησσυγ
κλητ

[Κ(ύρι)]ε βοήθει Βασιλ[είῳ ἐ]ν[δοξο]τάτῳ προέδρῳ τῆς συγκλήτου

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. A border of pellets within concentric borders of dots.

...
ρΑκοιμ.
μεντφι
λοχρ,εσ
ποτου

[(καὶ) πα]ρακοιμ[ω]μέν(ῳ) τοῦ φιλοχρ(ίστου) δεσπότου

Accession number BZS.1947.2.828
Diameter 25.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm
Previous Editions

Oikonomides, Dated Seals, no. 69.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει Βασιλείῳ ἐνδοξοτάτῳ προέδρῳ τῆς συγκλήτου καὶ παρακοιμωμένῳ τοῦ φιλοχρίστου δεσπότου.

Lord, help Basil, most illustrious proedros of the Senate and parakoimomenos of the Christ-loving emperor.

Commentary

The owner of this seal was undoubtedly the eunuch Basil Lekapenos who was elevated to the rank of proedros of the Senate by the emperor Nikephoros II Phokas. Oikonomides reasoned that since the inscription mentions only one emperor, this seal should probably be dated between the accession of Phokas in 963 and the joint reign of Basil II and Constantine VIII that began in 976.

Bibliography