Talismans - Magical gem: Harpocrates, baboon and two falcons in papyrus boat (A) Ἀβρασάξ (B)

Magical gem: Harpocrates, baboon and two falcons in papyrus boat (A) Ἀβρασάξ (B)

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CBd-Number:

CBd-523

ID-Number:

GB-BM-MMEu_G 522, EA 56522

Collection:

GB_London, The British Museum

Inventory:

G 522 (EA 56522)

References:

Michel, BM, no. 123; Michel, DMG, no. 19.3.d_3

Material:

jasper, green to black

Dimensions:

12 x 16 x 2 mm

Dating:

3rd c. AD (Michel)

Iconography:

animal: cynocephalus; flail; gesture, greeting; bird: falcons (2); boat, papyrus; crown, double; side-lock of youth; gesture, hand raised to mouth; moon, crescent; star; plant: lotus buds (2); Harpocrates seated with knees drawn up; Harpocrates sitting on lotus flower; gesture, ithyphallic; headband

Divine Names & Voces:

Ἀβρασάξ

A: Harpocrates sitting to left on a lotus flower in the middle of a papyrus boat; under the flower two lotus stalks with buds. Two falcons are sitting on both ends of the boat, wearing the double crown of Egypt and facing each other. The god’s knees are drawn up, his right hand raised to his mouth, his left holds a flail. A long side-lock of youth is falling to his neck and he is wearing the double crown of Egypt, and a headband in his hair. On the left side of Harpocrates an ithyphallic cynocephalus standing to right, facing the god and raising its arms in a greeting gesture. In the free place above the god an eight-pointed star and a crescent.
B: 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-533, CBd-534.

Bibliography
Michel, BM on CBd-523
Gordon 2011, 43, pl. 1.
The British Museum Collection database on CBd-523

Last modified: 2020-12-29 21:11:54

Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/523

CITE THIS PAGE

CBd-523. 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/523 on 24-04-2025.