Basileios, parakoimomenos (and doux of Edessa), 1060-1090. Seal (Lead, 27 mm, 12.24 g, 12 h). Θ / R/A/C-I/Λ/Є/I, Saint Basil standing facing, nimbate, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left.
Rev. AΠPOЄ/ΔPⲰ RACI/ΛЄIⲰ TPICMA/KAP ΓЄN૪ ROH/ΘOC T૪ ΠAPA/KOIMⲰMЄ/NOV ('Thrice blessed one, become the help of Basileios, protoproedros and parakoimomenos') in seven lines. A. Wassiliou-Seibt (2023): Basileios Parakoimomenos: Ein dem Philaretos Brachamios nachgeordneter Kommandant und seine Siegel (ca. 1078–1085/1086), in: I. Grimm-Stadelmann, A. Riehle, R. Tocci and M. M. Vučetić, Anekdota Byzantina. Studien zur byzantinischen Geschichte und Kultur. Festschrift für Albrecht Berger anlässlich seines 65. Geburtstags, Berlin & Boston 2023, p. 829-839, figs. 2-4. A very rare and highly interesting seal from a commander on the eastern frontier. Large surface crack along the channel on the obverse
, otherwise, very fine.
From a European collection, formed before 2005.
As Wassiliou-Seibt shows, this seal must belong to the nameless parakoimomenos mentioned by Matthew of Edessa as doux of Edessa for the year 1086, appointed by Philaretos Brachamios before his campaign against the Seljuk sultan, Malik-Shah. The eunuch Basileios was almost immediately murdered by another of Brachamios' officers, who succeeded him as doux. There is another seal type (Cheynet, Zacos Genève, 68 and Wassiliou-Seibt, fig. 1) that does not mention his dignity of protoproedros.
