Basil imperial protospatharios and topoteretes of Tenos (ninth/tenth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the corners: ΤΩ–ΣΩ|–ΛΩ. Border of dots.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
̣ΣΗΛ
̣..ΠΘ
ΤΟ̣Π̣ΟΤΕΡ
Τ̣ . Ν̣̣
Βασηλ(είῳ) β(ασιλικῳ) [(πρωτο)σ]παθ(αρίῳ καὶ) τοποτερ(ητῃ) Τ[ή]νου
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the corners: ΤΩ–ΣΩ|–ΛΩ. Border of dots.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of four lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
̣ΣΗΛ
̣..ΠΘ
ΤΟ̣Π̣ΟΤΕΡ
Τ̣ . Ν̣̣
Βασηλ(είῳ) β(ασιλικῳ) [(πρωτο)σ]παθ(αρίῳ καὶ) τοποτερ(ητῃ) Τ[ή]νου
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.739 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28.0 mm |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Βασηλείῳ βασιλικῳ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ τοποτερητῃ Τήνου.
Mother of God, help your servant Basil, imperial protospatharios and topoteretes of Tenos.
Commentary
The reading of β(ασιλικῷ) on second line of the reverse is tentative. Zacos proposed that the last word is Τήνου, i.e. the island of Tenos, but this reading was not considered certain enough for the seal to be included with the seals from Tenos published in DO Seals 2: 57.1.