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Manuel I Komnenos (1143–1180)

 
 

Obverse

Half-length representation of a beardless Christ. Details indistinct. Sigla visible at left: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς [Χ(ριστό)ς]. Inscription visible in column at left: ὁ Ἐμμα[νουήλ]. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Manuel standing, wearing a loros, an end of which is draped over his right and left wrists. He holds a labarum in his right hand (only partially visible) and an akakia in his left. Remains of a circular inscription at right. Border of dots.

. . . ρφυρογενν....

[Μανουὴλ δεσπότ(ης) ὁ πο]ρφυρογένν[ητος].

Obverse

Half-length representation of a beardless Christ. Details indistinct. Sigla visible at left: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς [Χ(ριστό)ς]. Inscription visible in column at left: ὁ Ἐμμα[νουήλ]. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Manuel standing, wearing a loros, an end of which is draped over his right and left wrists. He holds a labarum in his right hand (only partially visible) and an akakia in his left. Remains of a circular inscription at right. Border of dots.

. . . ρφυρογενν....

[Μανουὴλ δεσπότ(ης) ὁ πο]ρφυρογένν[ητος].

Accession number BZS.1977.34.103 (formerly DO 77.34.103)
Diameter 39.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 93.7.

Translation

Μανουὴλ δεσπότης ὁ πορφυρογέννητος.

Manuel porphyrogennetos, despotes.

Commentary

On this specimen one can see distinctly that the cloth is draped over both the right and left wrists; the material draped over the right wrist is decorated with pellets. This same detail is to be found on Seibt-Zarnitz, no. 1.1.9. It could be that on BZS.1955.1.4350 an end of the emperor's loros hangs suspended from the right wrist.

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)
  • Das byzantinische Bleisiegel als Kunstwerk: Katalog zur Ausstellung (Open in Zotero)