John Doukas (twelfth century)
Obverse
Two saints standing and raising their hands towards Christ at center. Inscription to the right of the saint on right: Ο|Α|Γ|Ι|Ο|̣ ; inscription continues on left: ΙΝ̣|Ο̣̣|Α̣Λ̣ : ὁ ἅγιος Νικόλα(ος). The inscription to the left of the saint on left is obliterated; it continues on the right: ΟΚ|Ρ̣|ΑΟ̣ : [ὁ ἅγιος] Κουρα(ν)ό(ς)? Circular inscription around border of dots, beginning at twelve o'clock:
...ΡΑΓ̣ΙΣ̣ΔΟΥ.Α̣Σ̣Η.Α̣.. . . .
[ἡ σφ]ραγὶς Δου[κ]ὰς Ἠ[ω]ά[ννου] . . .
Reverse
Two saints standing and raising their hands towards the Virgin, with the medallion at center. Inscription to the right side of the saint on right: Ο|Δ|Η|.|Η̣ ; inscription continues on the left: Τ|.|ị|o|. : ὁ (ἅγιος) Δη[μ]ήτ[ρ]ιο[ς]. Inscription on the left side of the saint on left: Ο|Γ|Ε̣|̣ ; inscription continues on the right: Γ|Ι|Ο| : ὁ (ἅγιος) Γεώργιος. Circular inscription within concentric linear borders, beginning at twelve o'clock:
. . . .Π̣ΑΡ . . . Κ̣ΑΙΠ̣Ο̣ΡΦ̣ΥΡΑΝΘΣΕΥΣΕ̣σ... . . .
. . . παρ . . . καὶ πορφυρανθοῦς εὐσεβοῦς . . .
Obverse
Two saints standing and raising their hands towards Christ at center. Inscription to the right of the saint on right: Ο|Α|Γ|Ι|Ο|̣ ; inscription continues on left: ΙΝ̣|Ο̣̣|Α̣Λ̣ : ὁ ἅγιος Νικόλα(ος). The inscription to the left of the saint on left is obliterated; it continues on the right: ΟΚ|Ρ̣|ΑΟ̣ : [ὁ ἅγιος] Κουρα(ν)ό(ς)? Circular inscription around border of dots, beginning at twelve o'clock:
...ΡΑΓ̣ΙΣ̣ΔΟΥ.Α̣Σ̣Η.Α̣.. . . .
[ἡ σφ]ραγὶς Δου[κ]ὰς Ἠ[ω]ά[ννου] . . .
Reverse
Two saints standing and raising their hands towards the Virgin, with the medallion at center. Inscription to the right side of the saint on right: Ο|Δ|Η|.|Η̣ ; inscription continues on the left: Τ|.|ị|o|. : ὁ (ἅγιος) Δη[μ]ήτ[ρ]ιο[ς]. Inscription on the left side of the saint on left: Ο|Γ|Ε̣|̣ ; inscription continues on the right: Γ|Ι|Ο| : ὁ (ἅγιος) Γεώργιος. Circular inscription within concentric linear borders, beginning at twelve o'clock:
. . . .Π̣ΑΡ . . . Κ̣ΑΙΠ̣Ο̣ΡΦ̣ΥΡΑΝΘΣΕΥΣΕ̣σ... . . .
. . . παρ . . . καὶ πορφυρανθοῦς εὐσεβοῦς . . .
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1092 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 40.0 mm |
Translation
ἡ σφραγὶς Δουκὰς Ἠωάννου . . . . . . . παρ . . . καὶ πορφυρανθοῦς εὐσεβοῦς . . . .
The seal of John Doukas . . . . . . . and of a holy purple-blossomed . . . .
Commentary
The circular inscription on the obverse may have comprised a line of poetry in twelve-syllable meter, and therefore the missing piece may have contained the word τυγχάνει, or some equivalent word or phrase with a length of three syllables.
There are five candidates as to the identity of the owner of this seal: (1) the John Doukas who achieved the rank of sebastos and the title of megas hetaireiarches (and for whom we have records from 1155/6–1181); (2) John Doukas Komnenos (1128-1176), doux of Cyprus and protovestiarios; (3) the John Doukas (1064–before 1136) who achieved the rank of megas doux (PBW Ioannes 65); (4) the John Doukas who achieved the rank of kouropalates (as attested in BZS.1958.106.2382), who may or may not be the same person as (1), (2), or (3); and (5) some otherwise unattested person with the name John Doukas from the twelfth century.