Basil bishop of Akrasos (?) (eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God holding a medallion of Christ before her. At left and right: μ̅θ̅ : Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εοῦ). Circular inscription beginning at 8 o'clock.
θκεοηθ
Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθ(ει) [τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of four lines preceded and followed by a row of pellets. Border of dots.
ασιλ
ιοελεοΘΥ̅
πισκοπ
κραου
Βασιλίο ἐλέο Θ(εο)ῦ [ἐ]πισκόπ(ῳ) [Ἀ]κρα(σ)οῦ
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God holding a medallion of Christ before her. At left and right: μ̅θ̅ : Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εοῦ). Circular inscription beginning at 8 o'clock.
θκεοηθ
Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθ(ει) [τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of four lines preceded and followed by a row of pellets. Border of dots.
ασιλ
ιοελεοΘΥ̅
πισκοπ
κραου
Βασιλίο ἐλέο Θ(εο)ῦ [ἐ]πισκόπ(ῳ) [Ἀ]κρα(σ)οῦ
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4639 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 16.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5, no. 115.1. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Βασιλίο ἐλέο Θεοῦ ἐπισκόπῳ Ἀκρασοῦ.
Mother of God, help your servant Basil, by the grace of God bishop of Akrasos.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
- Notitiae Episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The reading [Ἀ]κρα(σ)οῦ is possible, but by no means certain. A particular problem arises from the fact that there does not appear to be a suspension mark after the second alpha.
The name of the bishopric, a suffragan of Sardis, is spelled Akrasos or Akarassos. See, for example, Notitia 13, line 114, in Darrouzès, Notitiae, 356.