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Alexios I Komnenos (1081–1118)

 
 

Obverse

Christ seated on a high-back throne, wearing a chiton and himation, raising his right hand in blessing and holding a book in his left. His feet rest on a dais. He has a nimbus cruciger, each arm of which contains a decoration consisting of one pellet. Sigla at right: χσ̅ : ['Ι(ησοῦ)ς] Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

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

αλ..ιωδ..ποτ,τωκομνηνω

Ἀλ[εξ]ίῳ δ[εσ]πότ(ῃ) τῷ Κομνηνῷ

Obverse

Christ seated on a high-back throne, wearing a chiton and himation, raising his right hand in blessing and holding a book in his left. His feet rest on a dais. He has a nimbus cruciger, each arm of which contains a decoration consisting of one pellet. Sigla at right: χσ̅ : ['Ι(ησοῦ)ς] Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

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

αλ..ιωδ..ποτ,τωκομνηνω

Ἀλ[εξ]ίῳ δ[εσ]πότ(ῃ) τῷ Κομνηνῷ

Accession number BZS.1958.106.613
Diameter 30.0 mm; field: 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 88.6. For a similar specimen, bearing the same inscription on the reverse, see Seibt, Bleisiegel, no. 27.

Translation

Ἀλεξίῳ δεσπότῃ τῷ Κομνηνῷ.

Alexios Komnenos, despotes.

Commentary

Christ is seen here in perspective. Note that one sees at right two legs of his throne. See also BZS.1951.31.5.1684.

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)
  • Die byzantinischen Bleisiegel in Österreich, Vol. 1, Kaiserhof (Open in Zotero)