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John kommerkiarios of Seleukeia (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. Nicholas blessing with his right hand and holding in his left hand a book decorated with dots. At right, remains of a vertical inscription: Κ|Ο|Λ[Ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νι]κόλ(αος). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

Θ̅Κ̅Ε
,Ι̅Κ
ΜΕΡΚΙΑ
Ρ,ΣΕΛΕΥ
ΚΙΑΣ

Θ(εοτό)κε β(οήθει) Ἰω(άννῃ) κουμερκιαρ(ίῳ) Σελευκίας.

Obverse

Bust of St. Nicholas blessing with his right hand and holding in his left hand a book decorated with dots. At right, remains of a vertical inscription: Κ|Ο|Λ[Ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νι]κόλ(αος). Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

Θ̅Κ̅Ε
,Ι̅Κ
ΜΕΡΚΙΑ
Ρ,ΣΕΛΕΥ
ΚΙΑΣ

Θ(εοτό)κε β(οήθει) Ἰω(άννῃ) κουμερκιαρ(ίῳ) Σελευκίας.

Accession number BZS 1951.31.5.1777
Diameter 23.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 6.18b

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει Ἰωάννῃ κουμερκιαρίῳ Σελευκίας.

Mother of God, help John kommerkiarios of Seleukeia.

Commentary

From the seals of kommerkiarioi, it is evident that its connections by land and sea made Seleukeia a center for the importation and distribution of silk, as noted in the Book of the Prefect, 5.1.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
  • Le livre du préfet; ou, L’édit de l’empereur Léon le Sage sur les corporations de Constantinople (Open in Zotero)
  • Das Eparchenbuch Leons des Weisen (Open in Zotero)