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Constantine X Doukas (1059-67)

 
 

Obverse

Half-length representation of Christ Emmanuel, bearded, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of five pellets. Sigla at left and right: (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΕΜΜΑ..ΥΗΛ

Ἐμμα[νο]υήλ.

Reverse

The emperor Constantine X bearded standing, wearing a crown with pendilia and a loros, one end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left hand. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

κ..ασιλ...ρωμαιωνοδκ,

[+]Κ[ων(σταντῖνος)] βασιλ[εὺς] Ῥωμαίων Δούκ(ας).

Obverse

Half-length representation of Christ Emmanuel, bearded, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of five pellets. Sigla at left and right: (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΕΜΜΑ..ΥΗΛ

Ἐμμα[νο]υήλ.

Reverse

The emperor Constantine X bearded standing, wearing a crown with pendilia and a loros, one end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left hand. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

κ..ασιλ...ρωμαιωνοδκ,

[+]Κ[ων(σταντῖνος)] βασιλ[εὺς] Ῥωμαίων Δούκ(ας).

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4322 (formerly DO 55.1.4322)
Diameter 30.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 77.1.

Translation

+Κωνσταντῖνος βασιλεὺς Ῥωμαίων Δούκας.

Constantine Doukas, basileus of the Romans.

Commentary

The emperor’s identity is assured by the presence of the family name. More than one type of seal was used in Constantine’s chancery. Seibt (Bleisiegel, no. 21) is inclined to date to the period ca. 1062–ca. 1064 the type with Christ represented half-length. Seibt (Bleisiegel, no. 22) believes that the type showing Christ enthroned, featuring a reverse on which the emperor is shown standing with the Virgin, who is in the act of crowning him, dates later, namely from 1065 to 1067. Seibt is certainly correct that the iconography of Constantine’s seals underwent significant change. In exploring the question of date (Bleisiegel, p. 93), Seibt points out that in 1064/65 the Οὔζων ἔθνος attacked the Balkans and inflicted on it severe depredations. From October to December of 1066 the emperor was felled with a grave illness. We agree with Seibt that, in light of these events, the emperor may well have wished to express through his seals the idea that his reign enjoyed the Virgin’s blessing and help. We therefore favor assigning the seals that show the emperor alone prior to the period of ca. 1065 and the seals that depict him blessed by the Virgin to the years 1065–67.

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)