Basileios, bishop of Antioch in Pisidia, 8th century. Seal (Lead, 28 mm, 15.07 g, 12 h). Cruciform monogram KVPIЄ; circular legend BOHΘЄI TⲰ ΔOV[ΛW COV] ('Lord, help your servant'). Rev. [B]A[C]IΛ[ЄI]/Ⲱ ЄΠICKO/ΠⲰ ANTIOX/ЄIAC THC Π/ICIΔIAC in five lines, cross below. Unpublished in the standard references. Struck on a small flan, otherwise, very fine.



The owner of our seal may well be the bishop of Pisidia who played a major role in the fierce controversy over icon veneration during the 8th century. He co-presided over the Iconoclast Council of Hieria in 754 alongside Theodosios of Ephesos and Sisinnios of Perge. His name appears on the list of iconoclasts anathematized by name at the seventh and eighth sessions of the Second Council of Nicaea in 787.