Basilios 123 was a spatharokandidatos, and apparently a native of the Peloponnesos (see below); he addressed a query about the power of magnetism to the patriarch Photius (Photios 1) and received a letter from him in reply explaining first the power of magnets and then turning the subject to the power of spiritual love: Photius, Ep. 254 (II 193ff Laourdas-Westerink) (written between 859 and 886, and addressed Βασιλείῳ σπαθαροκανδιδάτῳ Πελοποννησίτῃ). The epithet of place may indicate his place of origin or his place of residence, more probably the former; it does not seem likely to be a family name.

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