Alexios Komnenos, sebastos and doux of Dyrrachion (eleventh/twelfth century)
Obverse
The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple. Zacharias welcomes Mary, who is followed by Joachim and a group of four virgins, two of whom stand in the foreground holding candles; behind Zacharias are traces of Mary and an angel. In the background arise three baldachins; to the right, in the upper field, inscription: ΤΑ|ΑΓΙΑ|ΤΝΑ|ΓΙΝ: τὰ ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων ("The holy of holies"). Border of dots.
Obverse
The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple. Zacharias welcomes Mary, who is followed by Joachim and a group of four virgins, two of whom stand in the foreground holding candles; behind Zacharias are traces of Mary and an angel. In the background arise three baldachins; to the right, in the upper field, inscription: ΤΑ|ΑΓΙΑ|ΤΝΑ|ΓΙΝ: τὰ ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων ("The holy of holies"). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines; the final two letters between bars. Border of dots.
ΘΚΕ̅,Θ,
ΤΣΔΛ
ΑΛΕΙΣΕ
ΑΔ..
ΔΡΡΑΧΙ.
ΤΚΟΜΝ.
Ν
Θ(εοτό)κε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ) Ἀλεξίῳ σεβαστῷ (καὶ) δουκ(ὶ) Δουρραχί[ου] τῷ Κομν[η]νῷ
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1397 |
---|---|
Diameter | 29.0 mm; field: 25.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 12.1. See also Zacos-Veglery, no. 2715. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἀλεξίῳ σεβαστῷ καὶ δουκὶ Δουρραχίου τῷ Κομνηνῷ.
Mother of God, help your servant Alexios Komnenos, sebastos and doux of Dyrrachion.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- Les personnages byzantins de l’Alexiade: Analyse prosopographique et synthèse (Open in Zotero)
- Ἡ γενεαλογία τῶν Κομνηνῶν (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantium on the Balkans: studies on the Byzantine administration and the Southern Slavs from the VIIth to the XIIth centuries (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
- Sigillographie de l’Empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
- Βυζαντιακὰ μολυβδόβουλλα τοῦ ἐν ἈΘήναις Ἐθνικοῦ Νομισματικοῦ Μουσείου (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 2 (Open in Zotero)
- Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis historiarum (Open in Zotero)
- Sovety i rasskazy Kekavmena: Sochinenie vizant. polkovodt︠s︡a XI v (Open in Zotero)
- Michaelis Pselli Philosophica minora (Open in Zotero)
- Μελέται περὶ τῆς διοικητικῆς διαιρέσεως καὶ τῆς ἐπαρχιακῆς διοικήσεως ἐν τῷ βυζαντινῷ κράτει (Open in Zotero)
- Notitiae Episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae (Open in Zotero)
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
This is quite likely the second son of Isaac the sebastokrator who was appointed doux of Dyrrachion in 1105/6. He still occupied this position in 1108, when he fought Norman besiegers to a standstill and, on behalf of Alexios I, negotiated peace terms with Bohemund. See Skoulatos, Personnages, 12-14; Barzos, Komnenoi I, 147-54; and PBW : Alexios 105.