David Komnenos (thirteenth century, first half)
Obverse
St. Eleutherios standing holding the Gospel in his left hand and offering a blessing with his right. Inscription in columns on both sides. Ο||Ο Σ|Γ|Ι — Ε|Λ|Ε|Ε|ΡΙ|Ο|Σ: ὁ ἅγιος Ἐλευθέριος. Border of dots.
Obverse
St. Eleutherios standing holding the Gospel in his left hand and offering a blessing with his right. Inscription in columns on both sides. Ο||Ο Σ|Γ|Ι — Ε|Λ|Ε|Ε|ΡΙ|Ο|Σ: ὁ ἅγιος Ἐλευθέριος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of eight lines beginning with a cross. Border of dots.
ΚΟΝΟ
ΟΡΦΥΡΟ
ΛΟΥΛΟ
ΓΟΥΣΕΛΕΥ
ΕΡΙΟΣ
ΠΡΟΣΚΥΡΟΙ
ΘΥΘΥΤΗΣ
Δα(βὶ)δ Κομνηνοῦ πορφυροβλάστου λόγους Ἐλευθέριος προσκυροῖ Θ(εο)ῦ θύτης
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.3 |
---|---|
Diameter | 43.0 mm; field: 36.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 600 (with parallels listed); Feind, Verse auf byzantinischen Bleisiegeln I, no. 425. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Δαβὶδ Κομνηνοῦ πορφυροβλάστου λόγους Ἐλευθέριος προσκυροῖ Θεοῦ θύτης.
May Eleutherios, the priest of God, confirm the words of David Komnenos, born in the purple.
Bibliography
- Verse auf byzantinischen Bleisiegeln (Open in Zotero)
- Les sceaux byzantins du Médaillier Vatican (Open in Zotero)
- Les sceaux byzantins de la Collection Henri Seyrig (Open in Zotero)
- Les sceaux byzantins de la région danubienne en Serbie (Open in Zotero)
- Sfragistika (Open in Zotero)
- Molivdovuly grečeskogo Vostoka (Open in Zotero)
- Sceau inédit du David Comnène, libérateur du Pont et co-fondateur de l’Empire de Trébizonde (Open in Zotero)
- Sammlung Köhler-Osbahr, Vol. 5 (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The inscription consists of two dodecasyllabic verses.
This seal has several known parallels: Seyrig 573, Ermitazh M-7935 (Likhachev, p. 77), Vatican 178 (Laurent, Vatican, no. 178), Nationalmuseum Belgrade (Maksimović-Popović), Köhler-Osbahr 25 (Seibt and Althoff, no. 25). It is dated to the early thirteenth century (Laurent, Wassiliou-Seibt) and is therefore assigned to David Komnenos, the younger brother of Alexios I of Trebizond (1204-1222). This seal is likely related to BZS.1958.106.5585, which also bears the name of David Komnenos, described as βασιλεκγόνος or "descendant of the Emperor" (Zacos, no. 2754).