Anna Dalassene, nun, mother of the emperor (eleventh/twelfth century)
Obverse
Inscription in four lines. Border of dots.
ΚΕ,Θ,
ΑΝΝΗ
ΤΗΔΑΛΑ
ΣΗΝΗ
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Ἄννῃ (μον)αχ(ῇ) τῇ Δαλασηνῇ
Obverse
Inscription in four lines. Border of dots.
ΚΕ,Θ,
ΑΝΝΗ
ΤΗΔΑΛΑ
ΣΗΝΗ
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) Ἄννῃ (μον)αχ(ῇ) τῇ Δαλασηνῇ
Reverse
Inscription in four lines. Border of dots.
ΤΗΜΗ
ΤΡΙΤΟΥ
ΑΣΙΛΕ
Σ
τῇ μητρὶ τοῦ βασιλέως
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.518 |
---|---|
Diameter | 22.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Laurent, Corpus V/2, no. 1461. Cf. Zacos-Veglery, no. 2696. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Ἄννῃ μοναχῇ τῇ Δαλασηνῇ τῇ μητρὶ τοῦ βασιλέως.
Lord, help Anna Dalassene, nun, the mother of the emperor.
Bibliography
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This is the very influential mother of the emperor Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118). On her role in dynastic politics during this emperor's time, see Eric McGeer, John Nesbitt, Byzantium in the Time of Troubles: The Continuation of the Chronicle of John Skylitzes (1057-1079), 14-17 (with illustrations of other seals issued by Anna Dalassene).