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Alexios I Komnenos (1081–1118)

 
 

Obverse

Christ seated on a high-back throne, wearing a chiton and himation, raising his right hand in blessing and holding a book in his left. His feet rest on a dais. He has a nimbus cruciger. Sigla: Σ̅ΧΣ̅ : [Ἰ(ησοῦ)]ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

The emperor Alexios I bearded, standing on a dais, wearing a crown and loros, an end of which is draped over his left wrist and is decorated with five pellets. He holds a labarum in his right hand and a globus cruciger in his left. Circular inscription beginning at 7:30. Border of dots.

λειδεσποττκο

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπότ(ῃ) τῷ Κομνην(ῷ)

Obverse

Christ seated on a high-back throne, wearing a chiton and himation, raising his right hand in blessing and holding a book in his left. His feet rest on a dais. He has a nimbus cruciger. Sigla: Σ̅ΧΣ̅ : [Ἰ(ησοῦ)]ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

The emperor Alexios I bearded, standing on a dais, wearing a crown and loros, an end of which is draped over his left wrist and is decorated with five pellets. He holds a labarum in his right hand and a globus cruciger in his left. Circular inscription beginning at 7:30. Border of dots.

λειδεσποττκο

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπότ(ῃ) τῷ Κομνην(ῷ)

Accession number BZS.1958.106.616
Diameter 29.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 88.7; Zacos-Veglery, no. 102d. For a similar seal, with ligatures in the inscription identifying the emperor, see Likhachev, Molivdovuly, pl. LXXVIII, no. 2.

Translation

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπότῃ τῷ Κομνηνῷ.

Alexios Komnenos, despotes.

Commentary

The initial letter in the identifying inscription on the reverse looks like a Π. The concluding portion is problematic. Although the details are singular, the specimen must nonetheless have belonged to Alexios I, since seals of Alexios II and Alexios III are quite different in iconography and titulature.

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)
  • Molivdovuly grečeskogo Vostoka (Open in Zotero)