John Komnenos, sebastos (1103)
Obverse
Image of St. Demetrios holding a spear and shield. On either side: ||Μ|τ|ρη|οσ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Δημήτρηος. Beginning at the top, between concentric linear borders, a circular inscription.
..ρτυσιμεκομνηνονσκεπ...
[μά]ρτυς Ἰω(άννην) με Κομνηνὸν σκέπ[οις]
Obverse
Image of St. Demetrios holding a spear and shield. On either side: ||Μ|τ|ρη|οσ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Δημήτρηος. Beginning at the top, between concentric linear borders, a circular inscription.
..ρτυσιμεκομνηνονσκεπ...
[μά]ρτυς Ἰω(άννην) με Κομνηνὸν σκέπ[οις]
Reverse
Inscription of four lines, a cross above. Linear border.
σφραγ,
κομνην
ι̅ηδεσε
αστ
σφραγ(ὶς) Κομνηνοῦ Ἰω(άννου) ἥδε σεβαστοῦ
Accession number | BZS.1955.1.3916 |
---|---|
Diameter | 24.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Oikonomides, Dated Seals, no. 109. Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 1371; and PBW : Ioannes 128. |
Translation
μάρτυς Ἰωάννην με Κομνηνὸν σκέποις. σφραγὶς Κομνηνοῦ Ἰωάννου ἥδε σεβαστοῦ.
Martyr, watch over me, John Komnenos. This is the seal of the sebastos John Komnenos.
Bibliography
- A Collection of Dated Byzantine Lead Seals (Open in Zotero)
- Ἡ γενεαλογία τῶν Κομνηνῶν (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
John Komnenos was the nephew of the emperor Alexios I Komnenos and a great benefactor of the Iviron monastery on Mount Athos. Note that the inscription on the obverse is metrical, whereas the one on the reverse is not.