Skip to Content

Irene Synadene, sebaste (twelfth century, first half)

 
 

Obverse

The Mother of God standing, holding the Child in her right arm. Sigla on either side: ̅θΥ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a cross above. Border of dots.


σφργΊσ
σεησ
συνῆσ̣
ειρ́ησ

σφραγὶς σεβαστῆς Συναδηνῆς Εἰρήνης

Obverse

The Mother of God standing, holding the Child in her right arm. Sigla on either side: ̅θΥ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a cross above. Border of dots.


σφργΊσ
σεησ
συνῆσ̣
ειρ́ησ

σφραγὶς σεβαστῆς Συναδηνῆς Εἰρήνης

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.17
Diameter 27.0 mm; field: 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2801.

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

Translation

σφραγὶς σεβαστῆς Συναδηνῆς Εἰρήνης.

Seal of the sebaste Irene Synadene.

Commentary

Irene Synadene was the wife of the sebastos Manuel Botaneiates, and the grand-niece of the emperor Alexios I Komnenos. Note that the seal of her husband shows the same iconography on the obverse (see BZS 1947.2.1022).

Note the use of accent marks on the reverse.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)