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John Karianites (eleventh/twelfth century)

 
 

Obverse

Standing figure of St. Demetrios holding a spear and shield. Inscription in two columns: ||Ι|Μ|ΗΤ||Ρ,|ΟΣ: Ὁ ἅγιος Διμήτριος. Linear border.

Reverse

Inscription in four lines, a cross between bars above. Linear border. 


ΤΟΝ
ΚΡΙΝΙ
ΤΙΙ̅ΜΕ
ΣΚΕΠ,

Τὸν Καριανίτι Ἰωάννην με σκέπε

Obverse

Standing figure of St. Demetrios holding a spear and shield. Inscription in two columns: ||Ι|Μ|ΗΤ||Ρ,|ΟΣ: Ὁ ἅγιος Διμήτριος. Linear border.

Reverse

Inscription in four lines, a cross between bars above. Linear border. 


ΤΟΝ
ΚΡΙΝΙ
ΤΙΙ̅ΜΕ
ΣΚΕΠ,

Τὸν Καριανίτι Ἰωάννην με σκέπε

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4047
Diameter 21.0 mm

Translation

Τὸν Καριανίτι Ἰωάννην με σκέπε.

Protect me, John Karianites.

Commentary

Dodecasyllabic. Jordanov (Corpus II, p. 191) identifies four groups of seals bearing the name of John Karianites, all of which are represented in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection. It is difficult, however, to determine whether they belonged to one and the same person. Cf. Stavrakos, Die byzantinischen Bleisiegel, p. 194.

Bibliography

  • Die byzantinischen Bleisiegel mit Familiennamen aus der Sammlung des Numismatischen Museums Athen (Open in Zotero)
  • Corpus of Byzantine Seals from Bulgaria (Open in Zotero)