Basil servant of Christ (tenth century)
Obverse
A patriarchal cross (x at the lower crossbar) mounted on a base of three steps; fleurons arise on either side. Within a border of dots, a circular inscription:
. . . τσο..ος
[Kύριε/Θεοτόκε βοήθει] τῷ σῷ δούλος
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
.Rση
.ειοςο
.λςχρ
.στου
Βασή[λ]ειος δο[ύ]λω{ς} Χρ[ι]στοῦ
Obverse
A patriarchal cross (x at the lower crossbar) mounted on a base of three steps; fleurons arise on either side. Within a border of dots, a circular inscription:
. . . τσο..ος
[Kύριε/Θεοτόκε βοήθει] τῷ σῷ δούλος
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
.Rση
.ειοςο
.λςχρ
.στου
Βασή[λ]ειος δο[ύ]λω{ς} Χρ[ι]στοῦ
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.2471 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 29.0 mm; field: 19.0 mm |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Βασήλειος δούλως Χριστοῦ.
Basil, servant of Christ.
Commentary
There is a mistake on the obverse: δούλος should be in the dative (δούλῳ), but is instead in the nominative, matching the case of the reverse inscription. On the reverse we have marked the sigma after δούλῳ as a superfluous letter.