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Michael VII Doukas (1071–1078)

 
 

Obverse

Christ seated on a square-backed throne, wearing a tunic and himation and blessing with the right hand and holding a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm is decorated with one pellet. Sigla: ισ̅χσ̅ : (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

Michael VII standing on a round dais and wearing a crown with a cross and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist and ornamented with five dots. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΜΙΧΑΗ,ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤ,ΡΜΟΔκ,

Μιχαὴ(λ) αὐτοκράτ(ωρ) Ῥωμ(αίων) Δούκ(ας)

Obverse

Christ seated on a square-backed throne, wearing a tunic and himation and blessing with the right hand and holding a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm is decorated with one pellet. Sigla: ισ̅χσ̅ : (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

Michael VII standing on a round dais and wearing a crown with a cross and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist and ornamented with five dots. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΜΙΧΑΗ,ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤ,ΡΜΟΔκ,

Μιχαὴ(λ) αὐτοκράτ(ωρ) Ῥωμ(αίων) Δούκ(ας)

Accession number BZS.1948.17.3819
Diameter 26.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 84.1; Zacos–Veglery, no. 95e.

Translation

Μιχαὴλ αὐτοκράτωρ Ῥωμαίων Δούκας.

Michael Doukas, emperor of the Romans.

Commentary

The figures on this seal are relatively small in comparison with the height and breadth of other seals belonging to Michael VII.

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)