Nikephoros III Botaneiates (1078–1081)
Obverse
Bust of Christ lightly bearded, wearing a chiton and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of five pellets. Sigla at left and right: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.
Reverse
The emperor Nikephoros III standing on a round dais and wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist and decorated with four dots. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription. Border of dots.
νικηορ,δεσποτ/ τοτανιατ.
Νικηφόρ(ῳ) δεσπότ(ῃ) τῷ Βοτανιάτ[ῃ]
Obverse
Bust of Christ lightly bearded, wearing a chiton and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of five pellets. Sigla at left and right: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.
Reverse
The emperor Nikephoros III standing on a round dais and wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist and decorated with four dots. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription. Border of dots.
νικηορ,δεσποτ/ τοτανιατ.
Νικηφόρ(ῳ) δεσπότ(ῃ) τῷ Βοτανιάτ[ῃ]
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.9 |
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Diameter | 31.0 mm; field: 27.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 85.6; Zacos–Veglery, no. 98a. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Νικηφόρῳ δεσπότῃ τῷ Βοτανιάτῃ.
Nikephoros Botaneiates, despotes.
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)
Commentary
The emperor’s labarum seems to be decorated with a large pellet at left and at right a column of two dots.