Theodoros Komnenos, kouropalates and doux of Paphlagonia, late 11th century. Seal (Lead, 28 mm, 16.12 g, 12 h). [O / AΓ]/I - ΔH/MH/TP/I, Saint Demetrios, nimbate, standing facing, holding spear in his right hand and resting his left on shield.
Rev. +KЄ ROH[Θ,] / TⲰ CⲰ Δ૪ΛⲰ / [Θ]ЄOΔⲰPⲰ K૪/OΠAΛAT, S Δ૪/KI ΠAΦΛAΓO/N' TⲰ KOMNH/NⲰ in seven lines. DO Seals IV 11.4. Jordanov, Corpus II 340. The obverse struck slightly off center
, otherwise, very fine.
From a European collection, formed before 2005.
Another seal in Dumbarton Oaks attests the promotion of Theodoros Komnenos to the rank of nobellisimos (DO Seals 11.5). As the editors note, he does not appear in other sources, but he may have been the well-known aristocrat Theodoros Dokeianos, who was a Komnenos on his mother's side. He appears in the letters of Psellos, in the Alexiad of Anna Komnene, and, importantly, Bryennios mentions that he owned a house in Paphlagonia (Bryennios 195.8).
