Basil imperial protospatharios and judge (eleventh century)
Obverse
Inscription of five lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
...οηθει
.̣σλ̣
..σιλε.
...παθκα.
Κ̣ριτη
[Κ(ύρι)ε β]οήθει [τ]ῷ σῷ δούλῳ [Βα]σιλε[ί]ῳ [(βασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σ]παθ(αρίῳ) κα[ὶ] κριτῇ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
σφραγι.
φυλα...
φυκ..Λ̣Ο̣
γεγρα...
.ελογ..
σφραγὶ[ς], φύλα[ξ πέ]φυκ[ας], Λόγε, γρα[φῶν κ]ε λόγ[ων]
Obverse
Inscription of five lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
...οηθει
.̣σλ̣
..σιλε.
...παθκα.
Κ̣ριτη
[Κ(ύρι)ε β]οήθει [τ]ῷ σῷ δούλῳ [Βα]σιλε[ί]ῳ [(βασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σ]παθ(αρίῳ) κα[ὶ] κριτῇ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, decorations above and below. Border of dots.
σφραγι.
φυλα...
φυκ..Λ̣Ο̣
γεγρα...
.ελογ..
σφραγὶ[ς], φύλα[ξ πέ]φυκ[ας], Λόγε, γρα[φῶν κ]ε λόγ[ων]
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.646 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 32.0 mm; field: 30.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2965. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Βασιλείῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ κριτῇ. Σφραγὶς, φύλαξ πέφυκας, Λόγε, γραφῶν κε λόγων.
Lord, help your servant Basil, imperial protospatharios and judge. Divine Word, you have become the seal and guardian of my letters and documents.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The inscription on the reverse consists of two seven-syllable hemistichs. Wassiliou-Seibt notes that the invocation to the Logos is a prayer to Christ to act as guardian of the owner's correspondence.