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Theodora Doukaina Palaiologina (1259–82)

 
 

Obverse

The Mother of God seated on a thokos, holding Christ on her lap. Sigla at left and right: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

The empress standing, wearing a high crown and a loros. She holds in the left hand a jeweled trefoil scepter. Inscription in two columns. Border of dots.

ΘΕ
ΟΔΩ
ΡΕΥ
ΣΕΒΕ
ΤΗ
Γ
̣̣

Δ
ΚΙ
ΝΗ
ΠΛ.
ΟΛΟ̣
ΓΙ̣

Θεοδώρα εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα Δούκαινα ἡ Παλα[ι]ολογί[να]

Obverse

The Mother of God seated on a thokos, holding Christ on her lap. Sigla at left and right: ̅ΘΥ̅ : Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Border of dots.

Reverse

The empress standing, wearing a high crown and a loros. She holds in the left hand a jeweled trefoil scepter. Inscription in two columns. Border of dots.

ΘΕ
ΟΔΩ
ΡΕΥ
ΣΕΒΕ
ΤΗ
Γ
̣̣

Δ
ΚΙ
ΝΗ
ΠΛ.
ΟΛΟ̣
ΓΙ̣

Θεοδώρα εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα Δούκαινα ἡ Παλα[ι]ολογί[να]

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1701
Diameter 37.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 105.1.

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

Translation

Θεοδώρα εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα Δούκαινα ἡ Παλαιολογίνα.

Theodora Doukaina Palaiologina, most pious augusta.

Commentary

Theodora, who was the daughter of John Doukas and the wife of Michael VIII, outlived her husband by many years. She died in 1303.

A particularly fine example of the empress’s seal is published in Seibt–Zarnitz, no. 1.3.3. For a similar seal, see Likhachev, Molivdovuly, pl. LXXIX, no. 4.