Basil protospatharios and chartoularios of the Great Church (eleventh century)
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.199 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 42.4; Laurent, Corpus 5.1: no. 68. |
Obverse
Bust of the Mother of God orans with a medallion of Christ before her. Visible at right: ΘΥ̅ : [Μ(ήτη)ρ] Θ(εο)ῦ. No visible border.
Reverse
Inscription of six lines. No visible border.
κε,θ,
τσΔ
σιλιο
σπθSχ̅τ̅
τ,τθ̅υ̅.
.λλισι
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δού(λῳ) Βασιλίο (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) χ(αρ)τ(ουλαρίῳ) τ(ῆς) τοῦ Θ(εο)ῦ Μ(ε)γ(άλης) [Ἐκ]κλ{λ}ισί(ας)
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Βασιλίο πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ χαρτουλαρίῳ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ Μεγάλης Ἐκκλισίας.
Lord, help your servant Basil protospatharios and chartoularios of the Great Church of God.
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.199 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 5 no. 42.4; Laurent, Corpus 5.1: no. 68. |
Commentary
It is interesting that the invocation on the reverse opens with an appeal to the "Lord." One might have expected a request for help addressed to the "Mother of God." The form of the invocation is not tied to iconography, but to the ultimate patron of the Great Church, "God."