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Alexios I Komnenos (1081–1118)

 
 

Obverse

Christ seated on a high-back throne, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. His feet rest on a dais. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of one pellet. As on the other specimens noted in the commentary, we see two legs of Christ’s throne at right. Sigla at left and right: ισ̅χσ̅ : (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

The emperor Alexios I Komnenos, bearded, standing on a dais, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription along the circumference, beginning at lower left. Border of dots.

αλειωδεσπο....ο.....

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπό[τ() τῷ Κ]ο[μνην()]

Obverse

Christ seated on a high-back throne, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. His feet rest on a dais. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of one pellet. As on the other specimens noted in the commentary, we see two legs of Christ’s throne at right. Sigla at left and right: ισ̅χσ̅ : (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

The emperor Alexios I Komnenos, bearded, standing on a dais, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription along the circumference, beginning at lower left. Border of dots.

αλειωδεσπο....ο.....

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπό[τ() τῷ Κ]ο[μνην()]

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1684
Diameter 32.0 mm; field: 28.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 88.24.

Translation

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπότ τῷ Κομνην.

Alexios Komnenos, despotes.

Commentary

Despite similarities, this seal, BZS.1958.106.613, and BZS.1951.31.1685 are not parallel specimens.

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)