Skip to Content

John Komnenos, kouropalates and domestikos of the Schools of the West (1057-1067)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. George holding a spear across his chest and over his shoulder, and a round shield decorated with a tendril. Inscription: ε||ργ|ι|ο|σ: [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γ]εώργιος. Circle of pellets within two borders of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of eight lines; the final two letters between horizontal bars. Circle of pellets.

κΕ̅οηθ
σδλ
̅κροπαλ,τ,
.δομεστικ
τνσχολν
τησδυσαιοσ
τκομνη
ν

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) [τ]ῷ σῷ δούλῳ [Ἰ]ω(άννῃ) κουροπαλ(ά)τ(ῃ) [(καὶ)] δομεστίκῳ τῶν σχολῶν τῆς Δύσαιος τῷ Κομνηνῷ

Obverse

Bust of St. George holding a spear across his chest and over his shoulder, and a round shield decorated with a tendril. Inscription: ε||ργ|ι|ο|σ: [ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γ]εώργιος. Circle of pellets within two borders of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of eight lines; the final two letters between horizontal bars. Circle of pellets.

κΕ̅οηθ
σδλ
̅κροπαλ,τ,
.δομεστικ
τνσχολν
τησδυσαιοσ
τκομνη
ν

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) [τ]ῷ σῷ δούλῳ [Ἰ]ω(άννῃ) κουροπαλ(ά)τ(ῃ) [(καὶ)] δομεστίκῳ τῶν σχολῶν τῆς Δύσαιος τῷ Κομνηνῷ

Accession number BZS.1955.1.2986
Diameter 32.0 mm
Previous Editions

Zacos-Veglery, no. 2681b; DO Seals 1 no. 1.15a.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ κουροπαλάτῃ καὶ δομεστίκῳ τῶν σχολῶν τῆς Δύσεως τῷ Κομνηνῷ.

Lord, help your servant John Komnenos, kouropalates and domestikos of the Schools of the West.

Commentary

This is the father of Alexios I. The seal can be firmly dated after 1057, the year in which he was elevated by his brother Isaac I to the rank of kouropalates (Barzos, Komnenoi, 49). He held the same position in April 1059 (Lemerle, Cinq études, 39, 43) and died on July 12, 1067.

Bibliography

  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)