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Anna Palaiologina (1341-47)

 
 

Obverse

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

Reverse

The empress standing to front, wearing a crown and loros and holding a scepter in the right hand. Attitude of left hand indistinct. Inscription in two columns. Border of dots.

                              Υ
   ΑΝΝ                       ΤΟΚ
ΑΕΥΣΕ                      ΡΑΤΟΡ.
 ΒΕΑ                     ......
 ΑΥΓ                       Ε...
                          ΑΛ...
        Α                       ...
                                  ΝΑ

Ἄννα εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα αὐτοκρατόρ[ισσα Ῥομ]έ[ον ἡ Π]αλ[εολογίν]α.

Obverse

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

Reverse

The empress standing to front, wearing a crown and loros and holding a scepter in the right hand. Attitude of left hand indistinct. Inscription in two columns. Border of dots.

                              Υ
   ΑΝΝ                       ΤΟΚ
ΑΕΥΣΕ                      ΡΑΤΟΡ.
 ΒΕΑ                     ......
 ΑΥΓ                       Ε...
                          ΑΛ...
        Α                       ...
                                  ΝΑ

Ἄννα εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα αὐτοκρατόρ[ισσα Ῥομ]έ[ον ἡ Π]αλ[εολογίν]α.

Accession number BZS.1958.106.638 (formerly 58.106.638)
Diameter 28.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 109.1b; Zacos Veglery no. 127b; Byzantium: Faith and Power no. 7E.

Translation

Ἄννα εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα αὐτοκρατόρισσα Ῥομέον ἡ Παλεολογίνα.

Anna Palaiologina, most pious augusta and autokratorissa of the Romans.

Commentary

The reading of the reverse inscription is based on the readings of the three specimens from the same boulloterion in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection.

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)