Basil sebastos (eleventh century, second half)
Obverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
.Κ̣ΕΠΟΙΣ̣
..ΟΝ
.̣ΣΊΛΕΙΟΝ
̣ΛΟΓΕ
[σ]κέποις [σε]βαστὸν [Β]ασίλειον, ὦ Λόγε
Obverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
.Κ̣ΕΠΟΙΣ̣
..ΟΝ
.̣ΣΊΛΕΙΟΝ
̣ΛΟΓΕ
[σ]κέποις [σε]βαστὸν [Β]ασίλειον, ὦ Λόγε
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, top line illegible. Border of dots.
.....
ΜΕΟΜ
ΙΚΟΥΜ
ΓΛΟΥ
..... με δομ[ε]στίκου μ[ε]γάλου
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.412 |
---|---|
Diameter | 23.0 mm |
Previous Editions | W. Seibt, "Vasil Kol -- Basileios der Räuber -- Βασίλειος σεβαστὸς καὶ δούξ," JÖB 58 (2008), 153-158; see also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2194. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
σκέποις σεβαστὸν Βασίλειον, ὦ Λόγε, ..... με δομεστίκου μεγάλου.
Word become Flesh, may you protect the sebastos Basil, (kinsman?) of the grand Domestic.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Seibt plausibly suggests filling the missing line at the top of the reverse with ἀνεψιόν and identifies the owner as the Armenian warlord Vasil Kol (Basil the Robber).