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Basil Tzirithon, protovestarches, judge of the Velum and of the Kibyrraiotai (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Two figures standing to front. At left, St. Michael holding a labarum and a globus. Inscription: Ο|Ρ|Μ : ὁ ἄρχ(άγγελος) Μ(ι)χ(αήλ). At right, St. Nicholas blessing and holding book. Inscription: |Ν|Ι|ΚΛ|Α, : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικ(ό)λα(ος). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.

ΚΕ̅,Θ,
ΑΣΙΛΕΙ
Α  ΕΣΤΑΡΧΗ
ΚΡΙΤΗΤΗΛ,
ΤΝΚΙΥΡ
ΡΑΙΤ,ΤΤΙ
ΡΙΘΝΙ

Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Βασιλείῳ (πρω)τ(ο)βεστάρχῃ, κριτῇ τοῦ βήλ(ου) (καὶ) τῶν Κιβυρραιωτ(ῶν) τῷ Τζιρίθωνι

Obverse

Two figures standing to front. At left, St. Michael holding a labarum and a globus. Inscription: Ο|Ρ|Μ : ὁ ἄρχ(άγγελος) Μ(ι)χ(αήλ). At right, St. Nicholas blessing and holding book. Inscription: |Ν|Ι|ΚΛ|Α, : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικ(ό)λα(ος). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.

ΚΕ̅,Θ,
ΑΣΙΛΕΙ
Α  ΕΣΤΑΡΧΗ
ΚΡΙΤΗΤΗΛ,
ΤΝΚΙΥΡ
ΡΑΙΤ,ΤΤΙ
ΡΙΘΝΙ

Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Βασιλείῳ (πρω)τ(ο)βεστάρχῃ, κριτῇ τοῦ βήλ(ου) (καὶ) τῶν Κιβυρραιωτ(ῶν) τῷ Τζιρίθωνι

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.133
Diameter 23.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 2, no. 59.7a.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει Βασιλείῳ πρωτοβεστάρχῃ, κριτῇ τοῦ βήλου καὶ τῶν Κιβυρραιωτῶν τῷ Τζιρίθωνι.

Lord, help Basil Tzirithon, protovestarches, judge of the Velum and of the Kibyrraiotai.

Commentary

This is one of three seals from the same boulloterion edited jointly. See the other specimens listed below.

Laurent ("Ἐριθος - Ἀκοζὴρ," Hellenika 9 [1936] 22-23) has republished with corrections a seal engraved on the reverse with the same legend as above; the obverse is decorated, however, with an enthroned Virgin (cf. Konstantopoulos, no. 142a; G. Schlumberger, "Sceaux byzantins inédits," RN 20 [1916] 38, no. 311). For the career of Basil Tzirithon, see Laurent, Corpus II, no. 1032, and PBW : Basileios 214. He seems to have served in the Kibyrraiotai in the late 1070s.

Bibliography

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