Skip to Content

Alexios Strategopoulos Komnenos (thirteenth century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of six lines, beginning with a cross. Border of thick dots.

σΦρ
γισκυρ
ουστ
σγρφ
σλει
ου

σφραγὶς κυροῦσα τὰς γραφὰς Ἀλεξίου

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, beginning with a cross. Border of thick dots.

στρ
τηγο
πλουκ
ικομν
ηε
κγεσ

Στρατηγοπούλου καὶ Κομνηνῶν ἐκ γένους

Obverse

Inscription of six lines, beginning with a cross. Border of thick dots.

σΦρ
γισκυρ
ουστ
σγρφ
σλει
ου

σφραγὶς κυροῦσα τὰς γραφὰς Ἀλεξίου

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, beginning with a cross. Border of thick dots.

στρ
τηγο
πλουκ
ικομν
ηε
κγεσ

Στρατηγοπούλου καὶ Κομνηνῶν ἐκ γένους

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4004
Diameter 33.0 mm
Previous Editions

Zacos-Veglery, no. 2756; cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2510.

Translation

σφραγὶς κυροῦσα τὰς γραφὰς Ἀλεξίου Στρατηγοπούλου καὶ Κομνηνῶν ἐκ γένους.

The seal secures the correspondence of Alexios Strategopoulos of Komnenian descent.

Commentary

The owner of this seal is famous as the soldier who liberated Constantinople from Latin rule in 1261 and occupied the city until the triumphant entry of Michael VIII Palaiologos. The seal must date from the years between 1250 and Alexios Strategopoulos Komnenos's death in 1275.

Note the number of unusual ligatures in the inscription.

Bibliography

  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)