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Alexios Komnenos, sebastos (twelfth century, first half)

 
 

Obverse

Partially preserved image of the Mother of God orans. Epigraphy visible on left: μρ̅ : Μ(ήτη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Remains of an inscription of which three full lines and a part of a fourth are preserved. A decoration below. Border of dots.

.......ρ
υντακομνη
ουμρ̅ο̅παρ
ενεσκεπ
  

[σεβαστὸν Ἀλέξιον ἐκ Νικηφό]ρου [φ]ύντα Κομνη[ν]οῦ, μ(ητ)ροπάρ[θ]ενε, σκέπ(οις)

Obverse

Partially preserved image of the Mother of God orans. Epigraphy visible on left: μρ̅ : Μ(ήτη)ρ [Θ(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Remains of an inscription of which three full lines and a part of a fourth are preserved. A decoration below. Border of dots.

.......ρ
υντακομνη
ουμρ̅ο̅παρ
ενεσκεπ
  

[σεβαστὸν Ἀλέξιον ἐκ Νικηφό]ρου [φ]ύντα Κομνη[ν]οῦ, μ(ητ)ροπάρ[θ]ενε, σκέπ(οις)

Accession number BZS.1947.2.1075
Diameter 34.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 1903 (listing the editions of this and other parallels).

Translation

σεβαστὸν Ἀλέξιον ἐκ Νικηφόρου φύντα Κομνηνοῦ, μητροπάρθενε, σκέποις.

Virgin mother, may you protect the sebastos Alexios, offspring of Nikephoros Komnenos.

Commentary

The owner of this seal, identified as the offspring of Nikephoros Komnenos, is to be identified as a nephew of the emperor Alexios I Komnenos. See Wassiliou-Seibt's commentary.

The inscription consists of two twelve-syllable verses.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
  • Ἡ γενεαλογία τῶν Κομνηνῶν (Open in Zotero)
  • Les bulles métriques dans la sigillographie byzantine (Open in Zotero)