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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. Sigla at left and right: (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

The emperor Alexios I bearded standing on a dais, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over his left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription, beginning at 7:30. Border of dots.

αλειωδεσπ,τ,τωκ,

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπ(ό)τ() τῷ Κ(ομνηνῷ).

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. Sigla at left and right: (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

The emperor Alexios I bearded standing on a dais, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over his left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription, beginning at 7:30. Border of dots.

αλειωδεσπ,τ,τωκ,

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπ(ό)τ() τῷ Κ(ομνηνῷ).

Accession number BZS.1958.106.497 (formerly DO 58.106.497)
Diameter 20.0 mm; field: 16.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 88.35; Zacos-Veglery, no. 102e.

Translation

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπότ τῷ Κομνηνῷ.

Alexios Komnenos, despotes.

Commentary

Apart from the dimensions of the diameter, the specimen contrasts with others in our series with regard to the simplicity of Christ’s throne and the lettering of the inscription identifying the emperor. There appear to be no dots on the loros draped over the left wrist. A seal of similar size is published by Seibt, Bleisiegel, no. 27b.

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)