Michael (Stryphnos), grand doux and husband of Theodora, sister of the Empress, 1195-1203. Seal (Lead, 40 mm, 18.00 g, 12 h). O / Θ/Є/O/ΔⲰ/P/O/C - [O IAKINΘOC] Saint Theodore (on the left) and Saint Hyakinthos (on the right), standing on either side of a tree; Saint Theodore holding a spear in his right hand and resting his left hand on a shield set on the ground, Saint Hyakinthos (off flan) swinging an axe at the tree. Rev. [Δ૪KO]C MЄ/[ΓAΛ૪ M]IXAHΛ / [ΓPAΦⲰ]N KVPOC / [AVΓOV]CTAΔЄΛ/[ΦHC C]VZVΓ૪ / [ΘЄOΔ]ⲰPAC ("The authorisation of the letters of the grand doux Michael, husband of Theodora, sister of the empress") in six lines. Laurent, Vatican 79. Oikonomides, Dated seals 126. Wassiliou-Seibt, Corpus 658. Zacos/Veglery 2749. An important seal with an extremely rare saint. Halved and broken along the channel, otherwise, good very fine.



The owner of this seal is undoubtedly Michael Stryphnos. He was married to Theodora Doukaina Kamaterissa, sister of Empress Euphrosyne Doukaina, the wife of Emperor Alexios III Angelos. It is notable that Michael, who held the high office of grand doux, also emphasized his status through an extended reference to his marital ties with the imperial family. Documentary sources indicate that Michael Stryphnos served as Admiral of the Fleet, a key military position. This identification is corroborated by two other seals that feature the same pair of saints on the obverse, but display his full name and titles on the reverse - Zacos/Veglery 2748, where he appears as protonobellisimohypertatos, and 2749, as sebastos.

Interestingly, an impressive gold-enameled ring belonging to him survives and is currently housed at Dumbarton Oaks (Ross, Byzantine and Early Mediaeval Antiquities II, p. 108, no. 158). The imagery of Saint Hyakinthos of Amastris, featured on this seal, is extremely rare. The scene - of which only a tree is preserved on our seal - depicts the saint felling an elm tree sacred to local pagans, an act that ultimately led to his martyrdom.