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Theodora Doukaina Palaiologina (1259-1282)

 
 

Obverse

The Mother of God seated on a thokos type throne, holding Christ on her lap. Sigla at left and right: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

The empress standing, wearing a high crown and a loros. She holds in the left hand a jeweled trefoil scepter. Inscription in two columns. Border of dots.

ΘΕ
ΟΔΩ
ΡΕΥ
ΣΕΒΕ
ΤΗ
Γ
̣̣

Δ
ΚΙ
ΝΗ
ΠΛ.
ΟΛΟ̣
ΓΙ̣

Θεοδώρα εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα Δούκαινα ἡ Παλα[ι]ολογί[να]

Obverse

The Mother of God seated on a thokos type throne, holding Christ on her lap. Sigla at left and right: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

The empress standing, wearing a high crown and a loros. She holds in the left hand a jeweled trefoil scepter. Inscription in two columns. Border of dots.

ΘΕ
ΟΔΩ
ΡΕΥ
ΣΕΒΕ
ΤΗ
Γ
̣̣

Δ
ΚΙ
ΝΗ
ΠΛ.
ΟΛΟ̣
ΓΙ̣

Θεοδώρα εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα Δούκαινα ἡ Παλα[ι]ολογί[να]

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1701
Diameter 37.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 105.1.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Θεοδώρα εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα Δούκαινα ἡ Παλαιολογίνα.

Theodora Doukaina Palaiologina, most pious Augusta.

Commentary

Theodora, the daughter of John Doukas and the wife of Michael VIII Palaiologos (reigned 1261-1282), outlived her husband by many years. She died in 1303.

A particularly fine example of the empress’s seal is published in Seibt-Zarnitz, no. 1.3.3. For a similar seal, see Likhachev, Molivdovuly, pl. LXXIX, no. 4.