Seal of Michael Attaleiates, anthypatosshow empty fields
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    SigiDoc ID: s-xdxQVo

    Artifact

    Type
    Seal
    Matrix
    SigiDoc ID: m-z00l8j

    Physical description

    Medium
    Original impression
    Material
    Lead
    Shape
    Round
    Dimensions (mm)
    Diam. 18
    Weight (g)
    ―
    Channel orientation (clock)
    ―
    Axis (clock)
    ―
    Overstrike orientation (clock)
    ―
    Execution
    Struck
    Countermark
    ―
    Condition
    Blank too large for the matrix; imprint is clearly visible and well preserved; the iconography has a strong relief.

    Dating

    Date
    Ca. 1072 - 1078
    Internal date
    ―
    Dating criteria
    Historical context, Prosopography, Iconography, Titulature
    Alternative date
    ―

    History

    Category
    Dignitaries
    Issuer
    Michael Attaleiates(PBW: Michael 202)
    Milieu: Aristocracy
    Gender: Male
    Place of origin
    ―
    Find place
    ―
    Find date
    ―
    Find circumstances
    ―
    Modern location
    Paris (France)
    Institution and repository
    Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Monnaies, médailles et antiques
    Collection and inventory
    Henri Seyrig Collection 325
    Acquisition

    Donation by Henri Seyrig.

    Previous locations
    ―
    Modern observations
    ―

    Obverse

    Language(s)
    Greek
    Layout of field
    Iconography
    Field dimensions (mm)
    Diam. 13
    Matrix
    ―
    Iconography
    Bust of the Virgin, holding the Child on her left arm, slightly in profile facing him (type Hodegetria).
    Decoration
    Border of dots.
    Epigraphy
    ―

    Reverse

    Language(s)
    Greek
    Layout of field
    Legend of 4 lines.
    Field dimensions (mm)
    Diam. 13
    Matrix
    ―
    Iconography
    ―
    Decoration
    Border of dots; above the legend, a cross between two lines on a separate line.
    Epigraphy
    ―

    Images

    Seyrig 17 (Inv. 325), obverse.
    Seyrig 17 (Inv. 325), reverse.

    Edition

    Interpretive

    obv
    aΜή(τη)ρ bΘ(εο)ῦ
    rev
    1Μιχαὴλ
    2ἀνθύπατ(ος)
    3Ἀτταλει-
    4άτης

    Diplomatic

    obv
    a̣̅ bΘ̣̅Υ̅
    rev
      
    1Μιχαηλ
    2ανθυπατ
    3ατταλει
    4ατησ

    Apparatus

    None.

    Legend and translation

    Μήτηρ Θεοῦ / + Μιχαὴλ ἀνθύπατος Ἀτταλειάτης.

    Mother of God. Michael Attaleiates, anthypatos.

    References

    Edition(s)
    Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, Cheynet, Morrisson, Seibt, coll. Seyrig, 1991, 17.
    Parallel(s)
    No parallels known
    Further references
    No further references

    Commentary

    P. Gautier a reconstitué la carrière de Michel Attaleiatès [1]. Romain IV lui conféra la dignité de patrice en 1069 et Michel VII lui accorda celle, supérieure, d'anthypatos, comme en témoigne le titre de l’ouvrage de droit composé par Attaleiatès en 1072/73. Ce dernier fut promu vestès avant 1079, peut-être dès 1075. Le type de la Vierge Hodègètria, très en vogue dans la seconde moitié du XIe siècle, est ici très précisément daté.

    Footnotes