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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.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines, a cross of dots above. Border of dots.


ΣΕΑ
ΣΤΟΦΟΡ,
ΑΣΙΛΕΙ
ΟΝΣΟΙΣΚΕ
ΠΟΙ.

σεβαστοφόρ(ον) Βασίλειον, σοι σκέποι[ς]

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.


ΣΕΑ
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.

Commentary

We agree with Wassiliou-Seibt in taking σοι in the fourth line as a homophonic error for σύ.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)