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John Kontostephanos (twelfth century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of five lines, a cross above. Border of dots.


..φν
.π̣ισφρ
γισμκον
τοστεφ
νου

[γρ]αφῶν [ἐ]πισφράγισμα Κοντοστεφάνου

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

του
τησσ..
στν.
σιν
νου

τοῦ τῆς σ[ε]β[α]στῶν ἀξ[ί]ας Ἰωάννου

Obverse

Inscription of five lines, a cross above. Border of dots.


..φν
.π̣ισφρ
γισμκον
τοστεφ
νου

[γρ]αφῶν [ἐ]πισφράγισμα Κοντοστεφάνου

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

του
τησσ..
στν.
σιν
νου

τοῦ τῆς σ[ε]β[α]στῶν ἀξ[ί]ας Ἰωάννου

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.34
Diameter 29.0 mm; field: 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 538.

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

Translation

γραφῶν ἐπισφράγισμα Κοντοστεφάνου τοῦ τῆς σεβαστῶν ἀξίας Ἰωάννου.

The seal of the correspondence of John Kontostephanos, of the rank of sebastos.

Commentary

There are two persons to whom this seal might be attributed. The first is the John Kontostephanos, son of the commander of the fleet Isaac Kontostephanos, who accompanied his brother Andronikos on an expedition to Antioch in 1144; the second is the John Kontostephanos who is known to have been commander of the fleet in 1184.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)
  • Ἡ γενεαλογία τῶν Κομνηνῶν (Open in Zotero)