Lot 222
222
Epiphanios Krateros (mid 12th century), the Virgin standing, wearing chiton and maphorion, her hands lifted towards the Manus Dei apperaing in the upper right field, in fields to left and right **, vertical inscriptions **, rev. metrical legend in four lines **, 22.57g. (Shaw, DO.47.2.1102; DO.58.106.1704; Laurent, Bulles mtriques 623), very fine

Details
Epiphanios Krateros (mid 12th century), the Virgin standing, wearing chiton and maphorion, her hands lifted towards the Manus Dei apperaing in the upper right field, in fields to left and right **, vertical inscriptions **, rev. metrical legend in four lines **, 22.57g. (Shaw, DO.47.2.1102; DO.58.106.1704; Laurent, Bulles mtriques 623), very fine

Lot Essay

The Krateros family was one of the oldest of the empire. During the 11th century several members held high military command with mixed success. Theophano, the beautiful wife of Romanus II, was of this family. By the end of the century the family fortunes declined, and they were reduced to the ranks of the civil service. A Epiphanos Krateros is recorded as a lawyer in the naval department in 1195.