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Basil imperial protospatharios and epi ton deeseon (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Cross on three steps, with two transverse bars and fleurons rising to the first crossbar. Remains of a circular inscription along the circumference. Linear border.

κεοηθητσουλˊ

Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.


λει
σπθ
επι
ησ

σ.λ
.ˊˊσπ
ε
νε
εν

Βασιλείῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν δεήσεων

Obverse

Cross on three steps, with two transverse bars and fleurons rising to the first crossbar. Remains of a circular inscription along the circumference. Linear border.

κεοηθητσουλˊ

Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.


λει
σπθ
επι
ησ

σ.λ
.ˊˊσπ
ε
νε
εν

Βασιλείῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν δεήσεων

Accession number BZS.1958.106.1477
Diameter 30.0 mm; field: 28.0 mm

Translation

Κύριε βοήθη τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Βασιλείῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν δεήσεων.

Lord, help your servant Basil imperial protospatharios and master of petitions.

Commentary

Catalogued as a single seal, this specimen in fact consists of two halves of separate seals. They likely issue from the same owner but were clearly struck by different boulloteria. The obverse of both matches and has been edited jointly. While the reverse inscriptions provide the same information, the lettering does not match. We therefore edit both halves and combine the readings.