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A: Harpocrates sitting to right on a lotus flower in the middle of a papyrus boat; under the flower two lotus stalks without buds. Two falcons sitting on both ends of the boat and facing each other; wearing the crowns of Lower Egypt (left one) and Upper Egypt (right one). The god’s legs are hanging down; he is holding a clarinet-like instrument in front of his face with both hands. A long side-lock of youth is falling to his neck; on the top of his head the solar disk.
B: First line: characteres. Spiral inscription beginning in the second line: δοσχαρινθεανουτιπροσσεραπαμμωνα → Δός χάριν Θεανοῦτι πρὸς Σεραπάμμωνα. 'Grant Theanous favor in the eyes of Serapammon.'
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. The prayer on the reverse supports this interpretation. A pendant with the Horus-scheme that was presumably also a love charm: CBd 533.
Bibliography
Bonner 1951 on CBd-534
Michel, BM on CBd-534
The British Museum Collection database on CBd-534
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