Basileios, spatharios and ek prosopou of Antioch and man of the katepano, 11th century. Seal (Lead, 32 mm, 15.48 g, 12 h). [+K]Є R,Θ, / TⲰ CⲰ Δ૪ / RACHΛIⲰ / CΠAΘAP, in four lines; above and below, decorations. Rev. ЄK A[CⲰ]/ΠOV AN[TIO]/XЄI S AN[...]/Ⲱ T૪ KAT[Є/]ΠNⲰ in five lines. Unpublished in the standard references. An intriguing seal with a remarkable and rare constellation of titles. Surface roughness and corrosion, otherwise, good fine.


The phrase 'man of...' indicates a special relationship of trust that our seal's owner Basileios enjoyed with a katepano, the chief commander of a region. Considering the remainder of the legend, this would very likely have been a katepano of Antioch. As 'ek prosopou', he would also have acted as the katepano's representative.