Basil sebastophoros (eleventh century, second half)
Obverse
Bust of St Nicholas holding the book and offering a blessing. Inscription on either side: |ΝΙ|Κ,Λ|ΑΟ|Σ: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικ(ό)λαος. Border of dots.
Obverse
Bust of St Nicholas holding the book and offering a blessing. Inscription on either side: |ΝΙ|Κ,Λ|ΑΟ|Σ: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικ(ό)λαος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, a cross of dots above. Border of dots.
ΣΕΑ
ΣΤΟΦΟΡ,
ΑΣΙΛΕΙ
ΟΝΣΟΙΣΚΕ
ΠΟΙ.
σεβαστοφόρ(ον) Βασίλειον, σοι σκέποι[ς]
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1314 |
---|---|
Diameter | 22.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 1917. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
σεβαστοφόρον Βασίλειον, σοι σκέποις.
May you protect the sebastophoros Basil.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
We agree with Wassiliou-Seibt in taking σοι in the fourth line as a homophonic error for σύ.