Bachramios (Armenian Vahram), hypatos and faithful man of the maistor, 11th century. Seal (Lead, 24 mm, 11.70 g, 12 h). O / Θ/Є-O/ΔⲰ/P, Nimbate facing bust of Saint Theodore, holding a spear over his right shoulder, and resting a shield on his left arm .
Rev. BAXP, / VΠTOC Π/TOC ANOC / TⲰ MHC/TOP in four lines. Leu Numismatik, Web Auction 32 (2024), 2994, otherwise unpublished in the standard references. Breakage along the channel on the obverse and with some doubling on the reverse
, otherwise, very fine.
From a European collection, formed before 2005.
The name Bachramios corresponds to the Armenian name Vahram, which is derived from the Middle Persian Warahrān and means 'victory.' It was particularly popular among the Sassanid rulers, who ruled over Armenia for a long period, which led to the name's popularity within the Armenian aristocracy.
Our Bachramios bears the moderate dignity of hypatos on his seal and refers to himself as a pistos anthropos (a faithful man). On seals, this phrase typically indicates a personal relationship of trust with a superior, often the emperor himself. However, our seal seems to reference someone described as a maistor.
