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Romanos IV, Eudokia, Michael VII, Konstantios, and Andronikos (1068–1071)

 
 

Obverse

Three figures: in center, Christ bearded wearing a tunic and himation and standing on a dais. The dais seems to be flanked by one pellet at left and two pellets at right. Christ has a nimbus cruciger. With uplifted arms he places a cross-topped crown on the bearded head of emperor Romanos at the left and a crown with three triangular projections on the head of Eudokia at the right. Romanos wears a loros and holds the right hand before his chest and a globus cruciger in the left; Eudokia wears a loros and holds the left hand before her chest and a globus cruciger in the right. Sigla at left and right of Christ’s head: (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΡΩΜΑΝΕΥΔΟΚΑ

Ῥωμαν(ὸς) (καὶ) Εὐδοκ(ί)α

Reverse

Three figures: in center, Michael VII (taller) standing, wearing a crown with a cross and a loros and holding a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left. He is flanked by the shorter, beardless figures of Constantine at the left and Andronikos at the right. Each stands on a circular dais, and wears a crown with a cross and a loros. Constantine holds a globus surmounted by a trefoil ornament in the right hand and an akakia in the left. Andronikos holds an akakia in the right hand and a globus surmounted by a trefoil ornament in the left. All the figures wear a crown with pendilia. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΚΩΝΜΙΧΑΝΔ

Κων(στάντιος). Μ(ι)χ(αήλ). Ἀνδ(ρόνικος)

Obverse

Three figures: in center, Christ bearded wearing a tunic and himation and standing on a dais. The dais seems to be flanked by one pellet at left and two pellets at right. Christ has a nimbus cruciger. With uplifted arms he places a cross-topped crown on the bearded head of emperor Romanos at the left and a crown with three triangular projections on the head of Eudokia at the right. Romanos wears a loros and holds the right hand before his chest and a globus cruciger in the left; Eudokia wears a loros and holds the left hand before her chest and a globus cruciger in the right. Sigla at left and right of Christ’s head: (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΡΩΜΑΝΕΥΔΟΚΑ

Ῥωμαν(ὸς) (καὶ) Εὐδοκ(ί)α

Reverse

Three figures: in center, Michael VII (taller) standing, wearing a crown with a cross and a loros and holding a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left. He is flanked by the shorter, beardless figures of Constantine at the left and Andronikos at the right. Each stands on a circular dais, and wears a crown with a cross and a loros. Constantine holds a globus surmounted by a trefoil ornament in the right hand and an akakia in the left. Andronikos holds an akakia in the right hand and a globus surmounted by a trefoil ornament in the left. All the figures wear a crown with pendilia. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΚΩΝΜΙΧΑΝΔ

Κων(στάντιος). Μ(ι)χ(αήλ). Ἀνδ(ρόνικος)

Accession number BZS.1958.106.539
Diameter 34.0 mm; field: 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 82.1; Zacos–Veglery no. 93b. Cf. Seibt, Bleisiegel, no. 24 (modern cast copy) and Seyrig, no. 7.

Translation

Ῥωμανὸς καὶ Εὐδοκία Κωνστάντιος Μιχαήλ Ἀνδρόνικος.

Romanos and Eudokia. Konstantios, Michael, Andronikos.

Commentary

On the obverse the = at the end of the name ROMAN lies on its side. The same situation occurs on BZS.1947.2.369, BZS.1958.106.600, BZS.1958.106.567, BZS.1955.1.4329, BZS.1955.1.4330, BZS.1955.1.4331, BZS.1955.1.4332, BZS.1951.31.5.1669, BZS.1951.31.5.1670. One would certainly be justified to see this not as a sign of abbreviation for the word καί, but as a sign of suspension, an indication that letters have been omitted and that the legend should be read: Ῥωμαν(ός). The latter is the transcription given by Seibt, as well as Cheynet. On the obverse Romanos’s foot is indicated by a single pellet, which is not in alignment with his body. The pellet has been placed too far to the right.

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)
  • Die byzantinischen Bleisiegel in Österreich, Vol. 1, Kaiserhof (Open in Zotero)
  • Les sceaux byzantins de la Collection Henri Seyrig (Open in Zotero)