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David Komnenos (before 1214)

 
 

Obverse

King David "the prophet" holding a trefoil sceptre in his right hand, an akakia (or scroll) in his left. Inscription: |Σ|..ε..οπρ|οφη|τηΔα(βὶ)δ βασ[ιλ]ε[ὺς] ὁ προφήτης.

Reverse

An inscription of six lines, consisting of two twelve-syllable verses separated by a decoration. Cross above inscription, decoration below. Line border.

̅̅̅σιλευ
σφλεσγρ
φνκυροσ
̅̅̅κομνηνου
σιλεκγο
νουγιν
 

Δα(βὶ)δ βασιλεῦ ἀσφαλὲς γραφῶν κύρος Δα(βὶ)δ Κομνηνοῦ βασιλεκγόνου γίνου

Obverse

King David "the prophet" holding a trefoil sceptre in his right hand, an akakia (or scroll) in his left. Inscription: |Σ|..ε..οπρ|οφη|τηΔα(βὶ)δ βασ[ιλ]ε[ὺς] ὁ προφήτης.

Reverse

An inscription of six lines, consisting of two twelve-syllable verses separated by a decoration. Cross above inscription, decoration below. Line border.

̅̅̅σιλευ
σφλεσγρ
φνκυροσ
̅̅̅κομνηνου
σιλεκγο
νουγιν
 

Δα(βὶ)δ βασιλεῦ ἀσφαλὲς γραφῶν κύρος Δα(βὶ)δ Κομνηνοῦ βασιλεκγόνου γίνου

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1706
Diameter 41.0 mm; field: 37.0 mm
Previous Editions

J.W. Nesbitt, Faith and Power, p. 34. Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 598a (listing all previous editions).

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Δαβὶδ βασιλεῦ ἀσφαλὲς γραφῶν κύρος Δαβὶδ Κομνηνοῦ βασιλεκγόνου γίνου.

King David, be a secure guarantor of the documents of David Komnenos, descendant of kings.

Commentary

David Komnenos was the grandson of Andronikos I (1183-1185) and the brother of the first emperor of Trebizond, Alexios I Komnenos (1204-1222), whom David helped to gain the throne. He tried to extend his brother's territory against the rival Laskarids of Nicaea but was later compelled to become a vassal of the Latin emperors of Constantinople in 1206. He was killed while defending the town of Sinope from an attack by the Seljuq Turks in 1214.

Bibliography

  • Byzantium: Faith and Power (1261–1557) (Open in Zotero)
  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)