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Alexios I Komnenos (1081–1118)

 
 

Obverse

Christ seated on a high-back throne, wearing a tunic 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, each arm of which is ornamented with a decoration of one pellet. Sigla at left and right: ισ̅χσ̅ : Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

The emperor Alexios I bearded, standing on a dais. He wears a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over his left wrist. He holds a labarum in his right hand and a globus cruciger in his left. Partial remains of a circular inscription. Border of dots.

.......δε....τ,κο.....

[Ἀλεξίῳ] δε[σπότ(ῃ)] τ(ῷ) Κο[μνηνῷ]

Obverse

Christ seated on a high-back throne, wearing a tunic 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, each arm of which is ornamented with a decoration of one pellet. Sigla at left and right: ισ̅χσ̅ : Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

The emperor Alexios I bearded, standing on a dais. He wears a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over his left wrist. He holds a labarum in his right hand and a globus cruciger in his left. Partial remains of a circular inscription. Border of dots.

.......δε....τ,κο.....

[Ἀλεξίῳ] δε[σπότ(ῃ)] τ(ῷ) Κο[μνηνῷ]

Accession number BZS.1958.106.626
Diameter 35.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 88.11.

Translation

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπότῃ τῷ Κομνηνῷ.

Alexios Komnenos, despotes.

Commentary

This seal might belong to Michael Doukas. In this case the section of the identifying inscription that we have read as T,KO should be interpreted as T,K: [αὐ]τ(ο)κ[ρ(ά)τ(ωρ)]. See also BZS.1958.106.647.

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)