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John Doukas, sebastos (eleventh century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St George holding a spear and shield. Epigraph on either side: .|γ|ε|ρ|γ|ι|οσ : [ὁ ἅ(γιος)] Γεώργιος. Within a double border of dots, a circular inscription running along the circumference, beginning at twelve o'clock:

..πτηυνριστνσοφναθληφορ,

[σε]πτὴ ξυνωρὶς τῶν σοφῶν ἀθληφόρ(ων)

Reverse

Bust of St Demetrios holding a spear and shield. Epigraphy: ||η|μ..|..|οσ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Δημ[ήτρι]ος. Within a double border of dots, a circular inscription running along the circumference, beginning at twelve o'clock:

Σκεπ.........νσεαστονι̅

σκέπ[οιτε Δούκα]ν σεβαστὸν Ἰω(άννην)

Obverse

Bust of St George holding a spear and shield. Epigraph on either side: .|γ|ε|ρ|γ|ι|οσ : [ὁ ἅ(γιος)] Γεώργιος. Within a double border of dots, a circular inscription running along the circumference, beginning at twelve o'clock:

..πτηυνριστνσοφναθληφορ,

[σε]πτὴ ξυνωρὶς τῶν σοφῶν ἀθληφόρ(ων)

Reverse

Bust of St Demetrios holding a spear and shield. Epigraphy: ||η|μ..|..|οσ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Δημ[ήτρι]ος. Within a double border of dots, a circular inscription running along the circumference, beginning at twelve o'clock:

Σκεπ.........νσεαστονι̅

σκέπ[οιτε Δούκα]ν σεβαστὸν Ἰω(άννην)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1727
Diameter 23.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 1922 (citing parallels with previous editions).

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

Translation

σεπτὴ ξυνωρὶς τῶν σοφῶν ἀθληφόρων σκέποιτε Δούκαν σεβαστὸν Ἰωάννην.

May you, the sacred pair of sage champions, protect the sebastos John Doukas.

Commentary

The reading of this specimen has been restored with reference to the better preserved parallels and transcription found in Wassiliou-Seibt's catalogue.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)