Talismans - Magical gem: Lion-headed figure (A) Anubis with Hecate (B)

Magical gem: Lion-headed figure (A) Anubis with Hecate (B)

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CBd-Number:

CBd-221

ID-Number:

DE-Berlin-Aeg_9864

Collection:

DE_Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ägyptisches Museum

Inventory:

9864

References:

Philipp, Mira et Magica, no. 138; Michel, DMG, no. 37.B.1.d_5

Former Collections:

Stosch, Philipp von, Collection

Material:

jasper, green and red

Dimensions:

36.5 x 30.5 x 4 mm

Dating:

turn of the 2nd–3rd c. AD (H. Philipp)

Iconography:

figure, lion-headed; weapon: daggers (2); whips (2); torches (2); torch, burning; clothing: garment; Hecate; flail; Anubis; star; moon, crescent; rays (8); pillar; plant: branch; wreath; clothing: kilt; modii (2)

Divine Names & Voces:

Ἀβλαναθαναλβα, variants; φορβαφορφορβα and variants; Μιχαήλ; Γαβριήλ and variants

A: A lion-headed figure wearing kilt and crowned with eight rays, standing with head to left. Righ hand holding a branch, left hand holding a wreath. To the left of the head, a crescent open to top, to the right, an eight-pointed star. Inscription around, beginning at bottom left: αβλανατανααβα → variant of Ἀβλαναθαναλβα-palindrome. Below the figure in three lines: μιχαηλυψισ|τεγαβριηλκ|ρατιστε → Μιχαὴλ ὕψιστε, Γαβριὴλ κράτιστε. 'Michael, the highest, Gabriel, the strongest.'
B: On the left, Anubis in kilt, right hand holding a flail, left hand holding a wreath (?), facing Hecate trimorph on the right. Hecate is clad in a peplos, her three heads crowned with modii, uppermost hands holding burning torches, middle hands holding daggers, lowermost hands holding whips. Below the figures in four lines: φορβαφορβη|βριμωφο|ρβαπιπ|ορθε → voces including variant of φορβαφορφορβα.

Bibliography
Philipp, Mira et Magica on CBd-221
Michel, DMG, 37.B.1.d_5.

Images
Cast of CBd-221 obverse and reverse in the Gem Impressions Collection of Cornell University Library

Last modified: 2019-10-28 14:22:06

Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/221

CITE THIS PAGE

CBd-221. The Campbell Bonner Magical Gems Database (2010-), developed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, editor-in-chief: Á. M. Nagy. Retrieved from: cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/221 on 09-03-2025.