The CBd
 
 
Magical gem: Greek inscription (A) busts of Selene and Helios, Greek inscription (B)
CBd-Number:
CBd-3612
ID-Number:
Fr-BnF-CdM_58.2244 B
Collection:
FR_Paris, Cabinet des Médailles
Inventory:
58.2244 B
References:
Delatte–Derchain 1964, no. 381; Michel, DMG, no. 28.7.a_1; Mastrocinque 2014, no. 396
Material:
chalcedony, white to brown/grey
Dimensions:
24.5 x 21 x 4.5 mm
Iconography:
Helios; rays (7); Selene; moon, crescent; stars (2)
Place of discovery:
Ainos (Thrace)

Description: Transverse oval, side B convex. Shape 2–3. White chalcedony. Drilled and broken at the top. Previously in the Briot Collection in Smyrna. From Ainos (Thrace).

A: Greek inscription in six lines: εισθ(εο)σεν|ουρανοισ|οωνκαιπροων|οπαντωνμιζων|οπασιμεσ|ουρανων → εἷς θ(εὸ)ς ἐν οὐρανοῖς ὁ ὢν καὶ προών, ὁ πάντων μ(ε)ίζων, ὁ πᾶσι μεσουρανῶν.
B: Bust of Selene wearing a crescent and Helios crowned with seven rays. Between them: two stars. Below: οδεσποτευων|ορατοισκα|ιαορατοισ → ὁ δεσποτεύων ὁρατοῖς καὶ ἀοράτοις 'The only god in the skies, the one who pre-exists, greater than anyone else, the one who rules over all the beings of mid-haeven, the visible and invisible ones' (translation of side A and B).

Bibliography
Delatte–Derchain 1964, no. 381.
Mastrocinque 2014 on CBd-3612
Gers-Uphaus 2017, 73–74.

The Cabinet des Médailles database on CBd-3612

Last modified: 2019-09-24 19:42:02
Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/3612
CITE THIS PAGE
CBd-3612. 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/3612 on 09-03-2025.

Image-ID 10449

Credits Photo: A. Mastrocinque

Rights © Bibliothèque nationale de France, Cabinet des Médailles

Notes Side A and B