Alexios II Komnenos (1180–1183)
Obverse
A bearded Christ seated on a high-back throne, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in benediction and a book in the left. His feet rest on a dais. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration. Sigla to the left and right of his head: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Inscription along the circumference, beginning at 8 o’clock. Border of dots.
ΚΕΟΗΘΕΙ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει.
Reverse
Alexios II standing, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription, beginning at 6:30. Border of dots.
ΑΛΕΙΩΜΕΓΑΛΩΣΙΛΕΙΤΩΠΟΡΦΥΡΟΓΕΝΗΤ
Ἀλεξίῳ μεγάλῳ βασιλεῖ τῷ πορφυρογενήτ(ῳ).
Obverse
A bearded Christ seated on a high-back throne, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in benediction and a book in the left. His feet rest on a dais. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration. Sigla to the left and right of his head: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Inscription along the circumference, beginning at 8 o’clock. Border of dots.
ΚΕΟΗΘΕΙ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει.
Reverse
Alexios II standing, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription, beginning at 6:30. Border of dots.
ΑΛΕΙΩΜΕΓΑΛΩΣΙΛΕΙΤΩΠΟΡΦΥΡΟΓΕΝΗΤ
Ἀλεξίῳ μεγάλῳ βασιλεῖ τῷ πορφυρογενήτ(ῳ).
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.640 (formerly DO 58.106.640) |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 94; Zacos–Veglery, no. 108. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Ἀλεξίῳ μεγάλῳ βασιλεῖ τῷ πορφυρογενήτῳ.
Lord help Alexios porphyrogennetos, the great basileus.
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
Zacos and Veglery have noted that this seal can reasonably be attributed only to Alexios, the son of John II, or Alexios, the son of Manuel I. Their reason for attributing this seal to Manuel’s son, an argument that we find compelling, is that Alexios II Komnenos, is known to have been styled μέγας βασιλεύς in public acclamations. See Zacos–Veglery, pp. 98 and 1574. In their reading of the circular inscription on the reverse Zacos and Veglery neglected to print an omega after the first tau.