Basil Aretzes (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God holding the medallion before her. On either side: Μ̅Θ̅ . Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εοῦ).
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, perhaps beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
Κ̅Ε̅,Θ,
ΑΣΙΛΙ,
ΤΟΑΡΕ
ΤΙ
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Βασιλί(ῳ) το Ἀρέτζι
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God holding the medallion before her. On either side: Μ̅Θ̅ . Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εοῦ).
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, perhaps beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
Κ̅Ε̅,Θ,
ΑΣΙΛΙ,
ΤΟΑΡΕ
ΤΙ
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Βασιλί(ῳ) το Ἀρέτζι
| Accession number | BZS 1958.106.869 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 17.0 mm; field: 16.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Seibt-Nesbitt, "Odd surnames," no. 13. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Βασιλίῳ το Ἀρέτζι.
Lord, help (your servant) Basil Aretzes.
Bibliography
- Odd Surnames beginning with Alpha. A Selection of Examples of Byzantine Seals in the Harvard Collections (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
In their edition of this seal Seibt and Nesbitt draw attention to the strangely shaped letter in the last line of the reverse. It appears to be a zeta and has been taken as such in accordance with their reading.