Talismans - Magical gem: Harpocrates sitting on lotus flower (A) Greek inscription (B-C)

Magical gem: Harpocrates sitting on lotus flower (A) Greek inscription (B-C)

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CBd-Number:

CBd-2408

ID-Number:

Fr-BnF-CdM_Froehner.2861

Collection:

FR_Paris, Cabinet des Médailles

Inventory:

Froehner.2861

References:

Delatte–Derchain 1964, no. 142; Ubaldelli 2001, 179; Michel, DMG, no. 19.1.b_27; Mastrocinque 2014, no. 9

Former Collections:

Capponi, Alessandro Gregorio (Rome 1683–1746); Froehner, Wilhelm (1834–1925)

Material:

carnelian, yellow to orange

Dimensions:

18 x 17 x 6.2 mm

Iconography:

crown, double?; flail; Harpocrates seated with knees drawn up; Harpocrates sitting on lotus flower; plant: lotus buds (2); side-lock of youth

Divine Names & Voces:

Σαβαώθ, variants; Γαβριήλ and variants; Σουριήλ; Ῥῆ

Description: Upright oval, both faces flat. Shape 8–9. Orange carnelian. Intact. From Rome.

A: Harpocrates sitting upon a lotus flower represented with two buds. The god is sitting with knees drawn up, facing left, crowned with the double crown (?), wearing the side-lock of youth, holding a lotus flower in his right hand and the flail in his left. Around the figure, from left to right: φρη → Φρῆ.
B: γαβριηλ|σουριηλ|σαβαωθ → Γαβριήλ, Σουριήλ, Σαβαώθ.

Bibliography
Delatte–Derchain 1964, no. 142
, 270–271, no. 179; ibid. 95; 154.
Mastrocinque 2014 on CBd-2408

The Cabinet des Médailles database on CBd-2408

The piece is probably identical with CBd-3025, a gem formerly in the Museo Borgiano.

Last modified: 2020-05-03 15:02:43

Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/2408

CITE THIS PAGE

CBd-2408. 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/2408 on 09-03-2025.

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Image-ID 9539

Credits Photo: A. Mastrocinque

Notes Side A and side B