John (metropolitan) of Gangra (twelfth century)
Obverse
Bust of St. George holding a shield. Inscription visible in column at right: γ|ι|ο|σ : [Ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γεώρ]γιος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
σκεπ
αθλ
γαγγ
Ι̅
Σκέπ[οις], ἀθλ[ητά, τ(ὸν)] Γάγγ[ρας] Ἰω[άν(νην)]
Obverse
Bust of St. George holding a shield. Inscription visible in column at right: γ|ι|ο|σ : [Ὁ ἅ(γιος) Γεώρ]γιος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
σκεπ
αθλ
γαγγ
Ι̅
Σκέπ[οις], ἀθλ[ητά, τ(ὸν)] Γάγγ[ρας] Ἰω[άν(νην)]
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1098 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 30.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 4, no. 17.1. Laurent, Corpus V/2, 1594; see also Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 1981. |
Translation
Σκέποις, ἀθλητά, τὸν Γάγγρας Ἰωάννην.
Champion of the faith, may you watch over John, the (metropolitan) of Gangra.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, volume 4: The East
- Le Corpus des sceaux de l’empire byzantin, vol. 5, L’Église
- Paphlagonien und Honorias
- Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
- Notes de Littérature et de géographie écclesiastiques
- Hierarchia Ecclesiastica Orientalis: Series episcoporum ecclesiarum christianarum orientalium
- Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden Teil 2: N - Sphragis
Commentary
A correct twelve-syllable verse. Laurent's restoration is metrically unworkable. Laurent rightly identified this metropolitan with John of Gangra who was present at the patriarchal synod in 1166.
The modern Çankiri, Gangra was the metropolis of Paphlagonia. Represented at Chalcedon with five suffragans, Gangra was left with only four about the mid-ninth century, and subsequently three by the time of Alexios Komnenos. See Paphlagonien, 196-199; ODB II, 821; Laurent, Corpus V/1, 318; J. Darrouzès in REB 50 (1992) 98-101. List of metropolitans in Fedalto, HEO I, 85-86.