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: ισ̅χσ̅ : Ἰ(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.
αλειωδεσπο....ο.....
Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπό[τ(ῃ) τῷ Κ]ο[μνην(ῷ)]
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: ισ̅χσ̅ : Ἰ(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.
αλειωδεσπο....ο.....
Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπό[τ(ῃ) τῷ Κ]ο[μνην(ῷ)]
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 δεσπότῃ τῷ Κομνηνῷ.
Alexios Komnenos, despotes.
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)
Commentary
Despite similarities, this seal, BZS.1958.106.613, and BZS.1951.31.1685 are not parallel specimens.