Talismans - Magical gem: Solar child on a lotus flower (A) Ἀβρασάξ (B)

Magical gem: Solar child on a lotus flower (A) Ἀβρασάξ (B)

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CBd-Number:

CBd-4026

ID-Number:

It-PMAN-CGuar_1502

Collection:

IT_Perugia, Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell'Umbria

Inventory:

1502

References:

Mastrocinque, SGG II, no. Pe 5; Vitellozzi 2010b, no. 512

Former Collections:

Guardabassi, Mariano (1823–1880)

Material:

jasper, green and red

Dimensions:

9.2 x 6.7 x 1.5 mm

Iconography:

plant: lotus flower; gesture, hand raised to mouth; Harpocrates sitting on lotus flower; Harpocrates seated with knees drawn up; plant: lotus buds (2); crown, lotus?; flail; crown, hemhem?

Divine Names & Voces:

Ἀβρασάξ

Description: Upright oval, both faces flat. Shape 8–9. Green chalcedony. Little crack to the lower left, side A. Mounted in a gold setting. Previously part of the Guardabassi Collection.

A: Solar child on the lotus. The child is nude, sitting with knees drawn up, to right, upon a lotus flower with two buds. Left hand raised to mouth, right hand bent in elbow and holding a flail. Head topped with the hemhem or lotus crown.
B: Inscription : αβρασαξ → Ἀβρασάξ.

A praxis known from a papyrus (PGM LXI 1-38) specifies that love charms had to be incised with the image of Horus on a lotus flower and the magical name Abraxas. Pieces with the Horus-scheme used as love charms: CBd-95, CBd-2392.

Bibliography
SGGII, 105, Pe 5.
Vitellozzi 2010b, 413, no. 512

Last modified: 2020-12-30 19:14:57

Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/4026

CITE THIS PAGE

CBd-4026. 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/4026 on 22-03-2025.