Eirene Komnene (1222-ca. 1239)
Obverse
Christ standing on a circular dais, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of a pellet in the center and two dots above and below. Sigla at left and right: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς [Χ(ριστό)ς]. Inscription in two columns, Ο|ΛΥΤΡ|Ω|ΤΗ|Σ: ὁ Λυτρωτής (The Redeemer). Border of dots.
Reverse
The empress standing on an oval dais, wearing a high crown (probably what was then called the modiolos) and a loros ornamented with a shield design at bottom. She holds the right hand before her and a scepter in the left. Inscription in two columns. Border of dots.
ΗΡΕΙ ΑΥ
ΕΥ ΓΟΥ
ΣΕΕ Α
ΑΤ Κ.
Η Μ..
Ἠρείνη εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα Κ[ο]μ[νηνή]
Obverse
Christ standing on a circular dais, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of a pellet in the center and two dots above and below. Sigla at left and right: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς [Χ(ριστό)ς]. Inscription in two columns, Ο|ΛΥΤΡ|Ω|ΤΗ|Σ: ὁ Λυτρωτής (The Redeemer). Border of dots.
Reverse
The empress standing on an oval dais, wearing a high crown (probably what was then called the modiolos) and a loros ornamented with a shield design at bottom. She holds the right hand before her and a scepter in the left. Inscription in two columns. Border of dots.
ΗΡΕΙ ΑΥ
ΕΥ ΓΟΥ
ΣΕΕ Α
ΑΤ Κ.
Η Μ..
Ἠρείνη εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα Κ[ο]μ[νηνή]
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4363 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 35.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 103.1. |
Translation
Ἠρείνη εὐσεβεστάτη αὐγούστα Κομνηνή.
Eirene Komnene, most pious augusta.
Bibliography
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- Das byzantinische Bleisiegel als Kunstwerk: Katalog zur Ausstellung (Open in Zotero)
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 6, Emperors, Patriarchs of Constantinople, Addenda (Open in Zotero)
- Precisazioni sul numisma laetiense e su un sigillo plumbeo inedito di Enrico di Hainaut (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The epithet ὁ Λυτρωτής, “The Redeemer,” is, to our knowledge, found only on seal specimens deriving from this empress’s boulloterion. On our specimen Eirene holds a scepter whose shaft is decorated with thick globules. The globules are thinner on the specimen published in Seibt–Zarnitz. On the specimen published by Likhachev one can see that the scepter terminates in a tripartite ornament. On the Likhachev seal the empress’s family name is spelled KO-M-H-N. It is possible that this is the inscription that the die engraver intended to appear.
Ed. Zacos–Veglery, no. 119b. A similar specimen is published in Seibt–Zarnitz, no. 1.3.2, and in Likhachev, Molivdovuly, pl. LXXVIII, no. 11.