★ The important bureaucrat Basileios ★

Basileios, patrikios, judge of the velon, grand chartoularios of the stratiotikon logothesion and oikonomos of the New Church, circa 1000-1050. Seal (Lead, 31 mm, 17.48 g, 11 h). +ΘKЄ RO-HΘ, - TⲰ CⲰ Δ૪Λ, - MHP - ΘV Half-length figure of the Mother of God “Hagiosoritissa” to the left, nimbate, both hands raised in supplication towards the Hand of God. Rev. RACIΛЄI/Ⲱ ΠPI’ KPIT, / TOV RHΛ, MΓ XAP/T૪Λ’ T૪ CTPA/TIⲰT, ΛOΓOΘЄ, / S OIKONOM, / THC NEA, in seven lines, cross with flanking decorations above. Unpublished in the standard references. An exceptional seal of an important Byzantine bureaucrat. Minor scuff on the obverse edge, otherwise, extremely fine.

The legend on this impressive seal of the patrikios Basileios lists a particularly colorful assembly of offices. The seal's owner was a member of the court of the velon, a distinguished tribunal in the capital, in addition to serving as the chief administrative official of the stratiotikon logothesion, a fiscal department that handled the taxes of the households of soldiers. Finally, Basileios mentions on his seal the office of oikonomos of the New Church (Nea Ekklēsia). As such, he was responsible for the daily administration of the church and its vast estates. The New Church was built by emperor Basil I the Macedonian between 876-880, and by the 11th century it had become one of the major church buildings in Constantinopolis.