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Alexios III Angelos (1195-1203)

 
 

Obverse

St. Constantine standing on a dais, wearing a crown with a cross and a loros. He holds a long cross scepter in the right hand. Visible at right: [ ἅγιος] Κων[στ]αν[τ]ῖνος. Border of dots.

Reverse

Emperor Alexios III standing, wearing a crown with a cross and a chlamys. He holds a labarum in the right hand. Traces of a circular inscription at left. Linear border.

......οσδ.σπ,τ. . .

[Ἀλέξι]ος δ[ε]σπ(ό)τ(ης) [ Κομνηνός].

Obverse

St. Constantine standing on a dais, wearing a crown with a cross and a loros. He holds a long cross scepter in the right hand. Visible at right: [ ἅγιος] Κων[στ]αν[τ]ῖνος. Border of dots.

Reverse

Emperor Alexios III standing, wearing a crown with a cross and a chlamys. He holds a labarum in the right hand. Traces of a circular inscription at left. Linear border.

......οσδ.σπ,τ. . .

[Ἀλέξι]ος δ[ε]σπ(ό)τ(ης) [ Κομνηνός].

Accession number BZS.1958.106.608 (formerly DO 58.106.608)
Diameter 43.0 mm; field: 37.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 96.1; Zacos–Veglery, no. 110b.

Translation

Ἀλέξιος δεσπότης Κομνηνός.

Alexios Komnenos, despotes.

Commentary

Unlike prior emperors, who are depicted wearing the traditional loros, Alexios III Komnenos is here shown wearing a chlamys, a garment denoting inferior rank. The loros is reserved to the sainted emperor, who appears on the obverse. The same garments are worn by the two figures on some classes of Alexios III's coins, but one (DOC 4.1:2a3) depicts both Constantine and Alexios wearing a loros.

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)
  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, Vol. 4, Alexius I to Michael VIII (1081–1261) (Open in Zotero)