I acquired an interesting addition to my
collection of Ioannes
seals and have been working at solving the block
monograms. It measures approximately 13.62 mm and weighs 3.92g. It appears to be 6th Century to me given the use of block
monograms and its size.
On the
obverse, I believe it solves α - ι - ν - ο - υ - ω Ἰωάννου = Ioannes or John
On the
reverse, I believe that it solves either α - ι - κ - λ - ν - ο - ρ - υ κορνικουλαρίου = kornikoularios or α - ι - κ - ν - ο - ρ - υ Καρίνου = Karinos. There is a
star in the left
field beside the
monogram.
There are two
seals with similar
reverse block
monograms in the
Dumbarton Oaks collection BZS.1958.106.852 and BZS.1958.106.3036.
As to the first, the curators solved it as (Seal of) John and Karinos. They noted that it "may be a seal of the same owners. The relationship between the two names contained within the
monograms is unclear; one could be a
patronymic or this could be a seal used by two persons."
As to the second, the curators solved it as (Seal of) John kornikoularios. They opined that "The reading of the
reverse monogram is uncertain. It quite possibly reads kornikoularios (cornicularius), a late
Roman military title, or, as
Zacos read it, it could read Καρίνου (Karinos). The latter is less likely because the
obverse so clearly contains the name John."
Zacos-Veglery, no. 371.
I believe that I can see both a
and
so I lean toward the solution of (Seal of) John kornikoularios. What do you think as to the offered solutions and its age?
Pogh_poor