Talismans - Magical gem: Harpocrates in papyrus boat, triads of animals (A) vocales (B)

Magical gem: Harpocrates in papyrus boat, triads of animals (A) vocales (B)

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CBd-Number:

CBd-529

ID-Number:

GB-BM-MMEu_G 1986,5-1,61

Collection:

GB_London, The British Museum

Inventory:

G 1986,5-1,61

References:

Michel, BM, no. 129; Michel, DMG, no. 19.4.b_3

Former Collections:

Ogden Collection

Material:

haematite (black)

Dimensions:

32 x 14 x 3.5 mm

Dating:

3rd c. AD (Michel)

Iconography:

gesture, hand raised to mouth; crown, unspecified; bird: falcons (3); animal: crocodile; star; scarabs (3); plant: lotus buds (2); Harpocrates sitting on lotus flower; Harpocrates seated with knees drawn up; boat, papyrus

Divine Names & Voces:

vocales; vocales, αεηιουω

A: Fragment of a magical gem. Harpocrates sitting to left on a lotus flower in the middle of a papyrus boat; only the left lotus stalk with a bud remains. The god’s right knee is drawn up, his right hand raised to his mouth, his left side missing. Presumably around him triads of animals: above, two scarabs, on the left three falcons (the upper wearing a crown), under the boat the hindquarters of a crocodile. In the free field an eight-pointed star.
Around: fragments of an inscription between two concentric oval lines: [- - - - -]αηλελωο[- - - - -] → vocales.
B: Characteres and inscription: αεηιουω → The Greek vowel series.
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-529
The British Museum Collection database on CBd-529

Last modified: 2020-12-31 12:32:03

Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/529

CITE THIS PAGE

CBd-529. 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/529 on 08-10-2024.