John Komnenos, sebastos (eleventh/twelfth century)
Obverse
Bust of St. Demetrios holding a shield in his right hand and a shield in his left. Inscription in two columns: Ο|Α|ΓΙ|Ο,–|Η||Τ̣Ρ̣, : ὁ ἅγιο(ς) Δημήτρ(ιος). Circular inscription between double border of dots.
Μ̣Α̣Ρ̣Τ̣Υ̣ΣΙΜΕΚΟΜΝΗΝΟΝΣΚΕΠΟ̣Ι̣Σ̣
μάρτυς Ἰω(άννην) με Κομνηνὸν σκέποις
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
ΣΦΡΑΓ,
ΚΟΜΝΗΝ
Ι̅ΗΕΣΕ
ΑΣΤ
σφραγ(ὶς) Κομνηνοῦ Ἰω(άννου) ἤδε σεβαστοῦ
Obverse
Bust of St. Demetrios holding a shield in his right hand and a shield in his left. Inscription in two columns: Ο|Α|ΓΙ|Ο,–|Η||Τ̣Ρ̣, : ὁ ἅγιο(ς) Δημήτρ(ιος). Circular inscription between double border of dots.
Μ̣Α̣Ρ̣Τ̣Υ̣ΣΙΜΕΚΟΜΝΗΝΟΝΣΚΕΠΟ̣Ι̣Σ̣
μάρτυς Ἰω(άννην) με Κομνηνὸν σκέποις
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.
ΣΦΡΑΓ,
ΚΟΜΝΗΝ
Ι̅ΗΕΣΕ
ΑΣΤ
σφραγ(ὶς) Κομνηνοῦ Ἰω(άννου) ἤδε σεβαστοῦ
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.3917 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 27.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Oikonomides, Dated Seals, no. 109; Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 1371. |
Translation
μάρτυς Ἰωάννην με Κομνηνὸν σκέποις. σφραγὶς Κομνηνοῦ Ἰωάννου ἥδε σεβαστοῦ.
Martyr, watch over me, John Komnenos. This is the seal of the sebastos John Komnenos.
Commentary
John Komnenos’s career is discussed in the commentary of DO Seals 1, no. 30.1. He was the son of the sebastokrator Isaac, brother of Alexios I. He governed Dyrrachion from 1091/92 to 1103 or 1105/6 (e.g., BZS.1955.1.2988), and, at an uncertain date, though possibly beginning 1106, Skopia (see BZS.1958.106.4345); in both positions, he held the rank of sebastos (see Zacos–Veglery, no. 2713bis for his title while doux of Dyrrachion). See also PBW : Isaakios 128.
Although the iconography on this series of seals differs from that on John’s seals as doux, an example of this type is attached to a document in Iviron dated to December 1103.
Note that the inscription on the obverse is metrical, whereas the one on the reverse is not.