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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.

..ρτυσιμεκομνηνονσκεπ...

[μά]ρτυς Ἰω(άννην) με Κομνηνὸν σκέπ[οις]

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a cross above. Linear border.


σφραγ,
κομνην
ι̅ηδεσε
αστ

σφραγ(ὶς) Κομνηνοῦ Ἰω(άννου) ἥδε σεβαστοῦ

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.

..ρτυσιμεκομνηνονσκεπ...

[μά]ρτυς Ἰω(άννην) με Κομνηνὸν σκέπ[οις]

Reverse

Inscription of four lines, a cross above. Linear border.


σφραγ,
κομνην
ι̅ηδεσε
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.

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.

Bibliography