Constantine Komnenos Laskaris (twelfth century, second half)
Obverse
St George standing, holding a spear and shield. To the side, the epithet Diasorites inscribed in column: Ο|Ι|ΣΟ|ΡΙ|ΤΗ|Σ: [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γεώργιος] ὁ Διασορίτης. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines (likely a cross above). Border of dots.
ΣΚΕ
ΚΟ
ΣΚΡ
ΝΤ
ΚΙΓΡ̣
Ρ
Τ
σκέ[ποις] Κομν[ηνὸν Λά]σκαρ[ιν Κων]σταντ[ῖνον οὗ] καὶ γρ[αφὰς σ]φρά[γιζε, μαρ]τύ[ρων κλέος]
Obverse
St George standing, holding a spear and shield. To the side, the epithet Diasorites inscribed in column: Ο|Ι|ΣΟ|ΡΙ|ΤΗ|Σ: [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γεώργιος] ὁ Διασορίτης. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines (likely a cross above). Border of dots.
ΣΚΕ
ΚΟ
ΣΚΡ
ΝΤ
ΚΙΓΡ̣
Ρ
Τ
σκέ[ποις] Κομν[ηνὸν Λά]σκαρ[ιν Κων]σταντ[ῖνον οὗ] καὶ γρ[αφὰς σ]φρά[γιζε, μαρ]τύ[ρων κλέος]
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.1176 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2027. |
Translation
σκέποις Κομνηνὸν Λάσκαριν Κωνσταντῖνον οὗ καὶ γραφὰς σφράγιζε, μαρτύρων κλέος.
May you, glory of the martyrs, protect Constantine Komnenos Laskaris, and seal his letters.
Bibliography
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 2, Siegellegenden von Ny bis inklusive Sphragis (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The owner of this seal is the brother of the emperor of Nicaea, Theodore I Laskaris (1205-1222); Constantine Laskaris had been proclaimed emperor in Constantinople on April 12/13, 1204, but had to flee when he could not gather the support necessary to resist the Latins. This seal should be dated to an earlier stage of his career, before 1203.