Talismans - Magical gem: Harpocrates sitting on lotus (A) voces (B)

Magical gem: Harpocrates sitting on lotus (A) voces (B)

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CBd-Number:

CBd-515

ID-Number:

GB-BM-MMEu_G 72, EA 56072

Collection:

GB_London, The British Museum

Inventory:

G 72 (EA 56072)

References:

Michel, BM, no. 115; Michel, DMG, no. 19.1.b_26

Former Collections:

Sloane, Sir Hans

Material:

haematite (black)

Dimensions:

17 x 12 x 3 mm

Dating:

3rd c. AD (Michel)

Iconography:

gesture, hand raised to mouth; Harpocrates seated with knees drawn up; Harpocrates sitting on lotus flower; cornucopia; side-lock of youth; crown, unspecified; headband?

Divine Names & Voces:

Ἰάω; Σαβαώθ; voces, unidentified; vocales

A: Harpocrates sitting to right on a lotus with knees drawn up; the lotus flower resembles an Egyptian head-rest. His left hand raised to his mouth, his right holds a cornucopia. A side-lock of youth is falling to his neck; he is wearing a headband and a crown on the top of his head.
B: Inscribed in four lines: [- -]ιθαιουσαβα|[- -]αηωηωιαα|[- -]αηυιαηιαω|[- -]αταιπταη.
C: Belonging to the inscription on the reverse: ωζα → voces including Σαβαώθ, Ἰάω, vocales and unidentified voces.
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-533, CBd-534.

Bibliography
Michel, BM on CBd-515
The British Museum Collection database on CBd-515

Last modified: 2020-12-29 21:04:37

Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/515

CITE THIS PAGE

CBd-515. 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/515 on 07-09-2024.