Nikephoros III Botaneiates (1078–1081)
Obverse
Bust of Christ lightly bearded, wearing a tunic and himation, and holding his right hand in blessing and the book in his left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of five pellets. Sigla at left: ΙΣ̅ : Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς [Χ(ριστό)ς]. Border of dots.
Reverse
The emperor Nikephoros III standing on a dais, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist and decorated with seven dots. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription along the circumference. Border of dots.
νικηορδ.....τωοτανιατη
Νικηφόρ(ῳ) δ[εσπότ(ῃ)] τῷ Βοτανιάτῃ
Obverse
Bust of Christ lightly bearded, wearing a tunic and himation, and holding his right hand in blessing and the book in his left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of five pellets. Sigla at left: ΙΣ̅ : Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς [Χ(ριστό)ς]. Border of dots.
Reverse
The emperor Nikephoros III standing on a dais, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist and decorated with seven dots. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription along the circumference. Border of dots.
νικηορδ.....τωοτανιατη
Νικηφόρ(ῳ) δ[εσπότ(ῃ)] τῷ Βοτανιάτῃ
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1680 |
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Diameter | 31.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 85.8. |
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)
Commentary
The book Christ holds is decorated in the center with dot enclosed by a circle. This same type of ornament is found on BZS.1951.31.5.1683. The emperor’s face is exceptionally large and long. The representation is on the whole quite crude.