Eirene Doukaina (1081–1118)
Obverse
Half-length representation of Christ bearded, wearing a tunic and himation. He holds the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of one pellet. Remains of a circular inscription. Sigla visible at right: ΧΣ̅ : [Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς] Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.
....ηθει
[Κ(ύρι)ε βο]ήθει
Reverse
Half-length representation of Eirene wearing a crown with triangular ornaments and three pendilia. She wears a loros and holds a scepter in the right hand and a globus cruciger (only the cross is visible) in the left. On the Vienna specimen one can see that she has an oblong, fleshy face. Remains of a circular inscription, beginning at 7:30. Border of dots.
ειρηνηαυ..............
Εἰρήνῃ αὐ[γούστῃ τῇ Δουκαίνῃ].
Obverse
Half-length representation of Christ bearded, wearing a tunic and himation. He holds the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of one pellet. Remains of a circular inscription. Sigla visible at right: ΧΣ̅ : [Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς] Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.
....ηθει
[Κ(ύρι)ε βο]ήθει
Reverse
Half-length representation of Eirene wearing a crown with triangular ornaments and three pendilia. She wears a loros and holds a scepter in the right hand and a globus cruciger (only the cross is visible) in the left. On the Vienna specimen one can see that she has an oblong, fleshy face. Remains of a circular inscription, beginning at 7:30. Border of dots.
ειρηνηαυ..............
Εἰρήνῃ αὐ[γούστῃ τῇ Δουκαίνῃ].
Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4348 |
---|---|
Diameter | 24.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 6 no. 89.1; Zacos-Veglery, no. 103b. For a parallel specimen, see Seibt, Bleisiegel, no. 28. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει Εἰρήνῃ αὐγούστῃ τῇ Δουκαίνῃ.
Lord help Eirene Doukaina, augusta.
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)
- Die byzantinischen Bleisiegel in Österreich, Vol. 1, Kaiserhof (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Eirene Doukaina was the eldest daughter of Andronikos Doukas. She was born in 1066, married Alexios I Komnenos in 1077, and, following Alexios’s death in 1118, became a nun. She died ca. 1133.