Nomos 24

BYZANTINE SEALS. Constantine Rhadenos, late 12th century. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 34.0 mm, 22.74 g, 12 h). MHP - ΘY Facing half length bust of the Virgin Mary, orans, wearing chiton and maphorion; in front of her, facing bust of the infant Jesus Christ. Rev. + / CΦΡΑΓΙC / ΡΑΔΗΝΟΥ / TΩΝ ΓΡΑΦΩΝ /KΩNCΤΑΝΤΙ / NOY ([I am the] seal of the writings of Radenos Constantinos) in six metric lines, within round dotted border. Konstantopoulos Athens 685a = Stavrakos 217. Wassiliou-Seibt, metrischen, 2791. Extremely rare seal, known from a single example in the Numismatic Museum of Athens. Scarce depiction of Jesus Christ not in a medallion held by Virgin Mary. Good very fine.

According to the chronicle of Novgorod, just after the fall of Isaac II, on 25 January 1204, the imperial throne was offered to an officer named Constantine Rhadenos. He was wise enough to turn the honor down since it would have almost certainly cost him his life. After the conquest of Constantinople by the forces of the 4th Crusade, he entered the services of the Latin Kingdom.

The origin of the Rhadenoi family was either in Macedon or Thrace, based on the Themata in which they served; the Greek name Rhadenos means "thin and tall but in an elegant way".