SigiDoc: Seal of the emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII

SigiDoc ID: s-UByyJc

Artifact

Type: Seal
Matrix: SigiDoc ID: m-tQ0Av2

Physical description

Medium: Original impression
Material: Lead
Shape: ―
Dimensions (mm): Diam. 29
Weight (g): ―
Channel orientation (clock): ―
Axis (clock): ―
Overstrike orientation (clock): ―
Execution: Struck
Countermark: ―
Condition: Offset to the left; pierced at the top; slightly indented at the channel holes. Obliterated on the reverse at the top left.

Dating

Date: 976-1025
Internal date: ―
Dating criteria: Reign, Prosopography, Iconography, Titulature, Parallel
Alternative date: ―

History

Category: Imperial
Issuer: Basil II,
Milieu: Imperial
Gender: Male
Constantine VIII
Milieu: Imperial
Gender: Male
Place of origin: ―
Find place: ―
Find date: ―
Find circumstances: ―
Modern location: Paris (France)
Institution and repository: Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
Collection and inventory: Henri Seyrig Collection 980
Acquisition: donation by Henri Seyrig.
Previous locations: ―
Modern observations: ―

Obverse

Language(s): Greek
Layout of field: Iconography with circular legend.
Field dimensions (mm): Diam. 23
Matrix: ―
Iconography: Bust of Christ with beard and long hair, spreading his tunic with his right hand, holding the Gospels in his left hand. The arms of the nimbus are flared at the ends and decorated with five dots arranged as a quincunx.
Decoration: Border of dotsBorder of dots
Epigraphy: ―

Reverse

Language(s): Greek in Latin script
Layout of field: Iconography with circular legend.
Field dimensions (mm): Diam. 23
Matrix: ―
Iconography: Busts, facing, of Basil II on the left and Constantine VIII on the right, holding a patriarchal cross between them with their inner hand. Basil II is wearing the loros, Constantine, the chlamys with the tablion.
Decoration: ―
Epigraphy: ―

Images

Seyrig 6 (Inv. 980), obverse.

Seyrig 6 (Inv. 980), reverse.

Edition

Interpretive

obv

^aἸ(ησοῦ)ς ^bΧ(ριστό)ς

obv

1[Ἐμμα]νο[υ]ήλ

rev

2[Basil(eios) (kai) Cons]tanti(nos) b(asileis) [R(omaion)]

Diplomatic

obv

^aΙ̅Σ ^bΧ̅Σ

obv

1.....ΝΟ.ΗΛ

rev

2........O..ATI.

Apparatus

None.

Legend and translation

Basileios kai Constantinos basileis Romaion.

Basil and Constantine, basileis of the Romans.

References

Edition(s): Cheynet, Morrisson, Seibt, coll. Seyrig, 1991, p. 23, no. 6.
Parallel(s): De nombreux, par exemple: Zacos, 1, p. 69, no. 76; Münzkabinett des Kunsthistorischen Museums Wien MK12 – BBÖ, 1, p. 85-88, no. 18 .
Further references

Commentary

Sur la sigillographie de Basile II et la coexistence de sceaux de l’empereur seul ou avec son frère Constantin, voir SEIBT, Bleisiegel, p. 87. Le type du sceau impérial avec les deux souverains ne semble guère avoir varié au cours de ce long règne; à la différence des monnaies où costumes respectifs et croix déterminent six classes d'histaména. Le type du sceau, avec le lôros ”droit” (modified loros) de Basile II rappelle celui de la première classe d'histaména [2] daté par Ph. Grierson de 977. Le dessin ainsi adopté pour les sceaux et la monnaie d’or au début du règne, ne fut plus changé.

Footnotes

[1]. BBÖ, 1, p. 87 .

[2]. 1993, 1 .