Skip to Content

Alexios Komnenos, sebastos (twelfth century, first half)

 
 

Obverse

St. Demetrios standing, holding his spear with his right hand and his shield with his left. Inscription at left: .|δι|μι|.ρ : [ὁ ἅ(γιος)] Διμί[τ]ρ(ιος). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.

...ιτ...
....οισ..
μ̣Αρτυρ.
κλεοσαλει..
.εαονκο̣
̣ονγ
...σ

[Διμ]ίτ[ριε, σκέπ]οις [με], μαρτύρω[ν] κλέος, Ἀλέξι[ον σ]εβαστὸν Κομνηνὸν γ[ένου]ς

Obverse

St. Demetrios standing, holding his spear with his right hand and his shield with his left. Inscription at left: .|δι|μι|.ρ : [ὁ ἅ(γιος)] Διμί[τ]ρ(ιος). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.

...ιτ...
....οισ..
μ̣Αρτυρ.
κλεοσαλει..
.εαονκο̣
̣ονγ
...σ

[Διμ]ίτ[ριε, σκέπ]οις [με], μαρτύρω[ν] κλέος, Ἀλέξι[ον σ]εβαστὸν Κομνηνὸν γ[ένου]ς

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.891
Diameter 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 632.

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

Translation

Διμίτριε, σκέποις με, μαρτύρων κλέος, Ἀλέξιον σεβαστὸν Κομνηνὸν γένους.

Demetrios, glory of the martyrs, may you protect me, the sebastos Alexios, a Komnenos by descent.

Commentary

The approximate dating of this seal to the first half of the twelfth century rules out any attribution to the emperor Alexios Komnenos.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)