Alexios Komnenos, sebastos and megas domestikos (eleventh century)
Obverse
St. Demetrios standing, with a spear and a shield. Sigla in columns on two sides:Ο|Α|ΓΙ|ΟΣΔ|Η|ΜΗ|Τ.|.|.,: Ὁ ἅγιος Δημήτριος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription in six lines. Border of dots.
Σ̣ΕΑΣΤΟΝ
.ΔΗΟΜΕΣ
Ι̣ΚΟΝΑ̣ΛΕΙ
ΝΝΥΝΤΟ̣ΝΚΟ
ΜΝΗΝΟΝΔΕΙ
ΚΝΥ̣
Σεβαστὸν ἤδη καὶ δομέστικον μέγαν Ἀλέξιον νῦν τὸν Κομνηνὸν δεικνύω
Obverse
St. Demetrios standing, with a spear and a shield. Sigla in columns on two sides:Ο|Α|ΓΙ|ΟΣΔ|Η|ΜΗ|Τ.|.|.,: Ὁ ἅγιος Δημήτριος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription in six lines. Border of dots.
Σ̣ΕΑΣΤΟΝ
.ΔΗΟΜΕΣ
Ι̣ΚΟΝΑ̣ΛΕΙ
ΝΝΥΝΤΟ̣ΝΚΟ
ΜΝΗΝΟΝΔΕΙ
ΚΝΥ̣
Σεβαστὸν ἤδη καὶ δομέστικον μέγαν Ἀλέξιον νῦν τὸν Κομνηνὸν δεικνύω
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.3961 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 1908. |
Translation
Σεβαστὸν ἤδη καὶ δομέστικον μέγαν Ἀλέξιον νῦν τὸν Κομνηνὸν δεικνύω.
I present Alexios Komnenos, already a sebastos and now a megas domestikos.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Dodecasyllabic.
The seals of the future emperor Alexios I Komnenos listed below are related but not exact parallels to this specimen, differing in the rendering of the iconography on the obverse and in the epigraphy. The reverse is poorly struck, and the reading of the last line is difficult.
This seal and its parallels will date from the years 1078-1081, during the reign of Nikephoros III Botaneiates, when Alexios Komnenos is attested in the office of grand domestic and with the title of sebastos.