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Basil sebastos (eleventh century, second half)

 
 
title

Obverse

Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.

.Κ̣ΕΠΟΙΣ̣
..ΟΝ
.̣ΣΊΛΕΙΟΝ
̣ΛΟΓΕ

[σ]κέποις [σε]βαστὸν [Β]ασίλειον, ὦ Λόγε

title

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, top line illegible. Border of dots.

.....
ΜΕΟΜ
ΙΚΟΥΜ
ΓΛΟΥ

..... με δομ[ε]στίκου μ[ε]γάλου

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.

.....
ΜΕΟΜ
ΙΚΟΥΜ
ΓΛΟΥ

..... 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.

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).

Bibliography

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