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Manuel I Komnenos (1143–1180)

 
 

Obverse

Half-length representation of a beardless Christ, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a scroll in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of one pellet. Sigla at left and right: [(ησοῦ)]ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Inscription in columns at left and right: []μ[μ]αν[ου]ήλ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Faint outline of Manuel standing, wearing a crown with cross and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left. Partial remains of a circular inscription at right. Indeterminate border.

. . . οπορφυρ . . .

[Μανουὴλ δεσπότ(ης)] πορφυρ[ογέννητος]

 

Obverse

Half-length representation of a beardless Christ, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a scroll in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of one pellet. Sigla at left and right: [(ησοῦ)]ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Inscription in columns at left and right: []μ[μ]αν[ου]ήλ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Faint outline of Manuel standing, wearing a crown with cross and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left. Partial remains of a circular inscription at right. Indeterminate border.

. . . οπορφυρ . . .

[Μανουὴλ δεσπότ(ης)] πορφυρ[ογέννητος]

 
Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1697
Diameter 33.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 93.10.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Μανουὴλ δεσπότης ὁ πορφυρογέννητος.

The emperor Manuel, born in the purple.

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)