John Komnenos Vatatzes (twelfth century, second half)
Obverse
Inscription of seven lines, a cross of dots above. Border of dots.
ΣΦΡΓΙΣ
ΚΟΤ.
ΤΧΡΙΤ..
ΜΟΥΟΣΤ.
ΤΖΠΡΟΗ̣
ΘΕΝ
σφραγὶς Κομνηνοῦ τα[ῦ]τα Χαριτω[νύ]μου ὅς Βατ[ά]τζου προῆ[λ]θεν
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
Δ̣ΕΣΠΟΤ
..ΔΟΣΚΙ
ΦΥΡΥΓΣ
ΣΕΥ
ΟΚΙΣ
δεσπότου [κλ]άδος (καὶ) [πορ]φυραυγοῦς [Κο]μνηνῆς Εὐ[δ]οκίας
Obverse
Inscription of seven lines, a cross of dots above. Border of dots.
ΣΦΡΓΙΣ
ΚΟΤ.
ΤΧΡΙΤ..
ΜΟΥΟΣΤ.
ΤΖΠΡΟΗ̣
ΘΕΝ
σφραγὶς Κομνηνοῦ τα[ῦ]τα Χαριτω[νύ]μου ὅς Βατ[ά]τζου προῆ[λ]θεν
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.
Δ̣ΕΣΠΟΤ
..ΔΟΣΚΙ
ΦΥΡΥΓΣ
ΣΕΥ
ΟΚΙΣ
δεσπότου [κλ]άδος (καὶ) [πορ]φυραυγοῦς [Κο]μνηνῆς Εὐ[δ]οκίας
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.3220 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 35.0 mm; field: 29.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2501 (dating this seal to the years between 1150 and 1182); see also PBW: Ioannes 20463. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
σφραγὶς Κομνηνοῦ ταῦτα Χαριτωνύμου ὅς Βατάτζου προῆλθεν δεσπότου κλάδος καὶ πορφυραυγοῦς Κομνηνῆς Εὐδοκίας.
This is the seal of Komnenos, John whose name is grace, a Vatatzes by descent, offshoot of an emperor and of Eudokia Komnene, born in the purple.
Commentary
The inscription is composed of three twelve-syllable verses and attests to the owner's royal lineage on his mother's side (his mother Eudokia being a daughter of John II Komnenos), and to his paternal ancestry through the Vatatzes family. His Christian name, John, is to be inferred from the epithet χαριτώνυμος, "whose name is grace," based on the etymology of the name John in its Hebrew form.