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Alexios Komnenos (twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

A half-length depiction of Christ, holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. Inscription in two columns: ο|ε|Μ..ν|ο|υ|η. : ὁ Ἐμ[μα]νουή[λ]. A circular inscription, beginning at 10 o’clock, within a double border of dots:

ΙΣΧΣΚΕΟΗΘΗ

Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστὸ)ς. Κύριε βοήθη

Reverse

Alexios Komnenos standing, wearing a crown and loros and holding a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left. Inscription at left and right, •|K|O-M|N|H|N|V, in two columns, accompanied by a circular inscription, beginning at 12 o’clock, between two borders of dots.

αλεΞιωδεσποτητωπορφυρογεητω

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπότῃ τῷ πορφυρογεννήτῳ τῷ Κομνηνῷ

Obverse

A half-length depiction of Christ, holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. Inscription in two columns: ο|ε|Μ..ν|ο|υ|η. : ὁ Ἐμ[μα]νουή[λ]. A circular inscription, beginning at 10 o’clock, within a double border of dots:

ΙΣΧΣΚΕΟΗΘΗ

Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστὸ)ς. Κύριε βοήθη

Reverse

Alexios Komnenos standing, wearing a crown and loros and holding a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left. Inscription at left and right, •|K|O-M|N|H|N|V, in two columns, accompanied by a circular inscription, beginning at 12 o’clock, between two borders of dots.

αλεΞιωδεσποτητωπορφυρογεητω

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπότῃ τῷ πορφυρογεννήτῳ τῷ Κομνηνῷ

Accession number BZS.1947.2.348
Diameter 37.0 mm; field: 27.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 92.1; Zacos-Veglery, no. 106 bis.

Translation

Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς. Κύριε βοήθη Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπότῃ τῷ πορφυρογεννήτῳ τῷ Κομνηνῷ.

Jesus Christ. Lord, help the despotes Alexios Komnenos, born in the purple.

Commentary

Zacos and Veglery assigned this specimen to Alexios Komnenos, colleague and son of John II. Still, it is possible that it should be attributed to Alexios Komnenos (born 1168/69; died 1183), colleague and son of Manuel I. A reader has suggested quite reasonably that the presence of a circular inscription within a double border might indicate western influence and therefore a somewhat later date. 

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)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)