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Eirene Komnene Doukaina Palaiologina (1285-1317)

 
 

Obverse

The Mother of God seated on a backless throne (thokos), holding Christ on her lap. Sigla at left and right: .ΡΘΥ : [Μή(τη)]ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

The empress standing, wearing a high crown and loros and holding a sceptre in her right hand; her left hand is held before her in supplication. Inscription in columns at left and right. Border of dots.

                          
             ΕΙΡΗ                  ΚΟ                   
ΝΙΕΥ                  ΜΝΗ
ΣΕΒΕ                 ΝΗΔ
ΑΤΗ                 ΚΕΝΑ
ΑΥΓ                 ΗΠΑΛ
  Α                    ΑΙΟΛ.
                           ΓΙΝ
                            Α

Εἰρήνι εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα Κομνηνὴ Δούκενα ἡ Παλαιολογίνα

Obverse

The Mother of God seated on a backless throne (thokos), holding Christ on her lap. Sigla at left and right: .ΡΘΥ : [Μή(τη)]ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

The empress standing, wearing a high crown and loros and holding a sceptre in her right hand; her left hand is held before her in supplication. Inscription in columns at left and right. Border of dots.

                          
             ΕΙΡΗ                  ΚΟ                   
ΝΙΕΥ                  ΜΝΗ
ΣΕΒΕ                 ΝΗΔ
ΑΤΗ                 ΚΕΝΑ
ΑΥΓ                 ΗΠΑΛ
  Α                    ΑΙΟΛ.
                           ΓΙΝ
                            Α

Εἰρήνι εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα Κομνηνὴ Δούκενα ἡ Παλαιολογίνα

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1704
Diameter 29.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 107.1b; Zacos-Veglery no. 125b.

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

Translation

Εἰρήνι εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα Κομνηνὴ Δούκενα ἡ Παλαιολογίνα.

Eirene Komnene Doukaina Palaiologina, most pious augusta.

Commentary

The reading of the reverse inscription has been restored and confirmed with reference to the readings of the three specimens from the same boulloterion in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection (linked to this entry).

A distinguishing feature of the type is the form of the letter mu employed in the sigla on the obverse.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 6, Emperors, Patriarchs of Constantinople, Addenda (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)