★ A seal of Anna Komnene Doukaina ★

Anna Komnene Doukaina, 2nd half 12th century. Seal (Lead, 32 mm, 23.64 g, 12 h). MHP - ΘV / H ΘA/V-M[A]/ CT [H] (?) The Mother of God “Thaumaste” (?), nimbate, raising both hands in prayer. Rev. KO MNHN [O]/Δ૪KⲰN Є[K] / ΓЄN૪C CΦP[A]/ΓIC A NNH C ("Seal of Anna, descendant of the Komnenoi and Doukai") in four lines. Wassiliou-Seibt, Corpus I 1117b (quoting an unpublished seal in Dumbarton Oaks, BZS.1951.31.5.1842). Some marks and striking weakness, otherwise, nearly very fine.

Our seal confirms the reading of the personal name Anna, which is incomplete on the very poorly preserved parallel example in Dumbarton Oaks. The Dumbarton Oaks editors assume the epithet of the Mother of God to be 'Blachernitissa', but this does not seem to be correct. The name is partly obscured on our seal as well, but comparing the legends on the two seals, the epithet can be reconstructed as 'Thaumaste', 'the wondrous', 'inspiring awe'.