Magical gem: Harpocrates sitting on a crocodile (A) Ἰάω, Σαβαώθ (B)
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CBd-Number:
CBd-543
ID-Number:
GB-BM-MMEu_G 538, EA 35438
Collection:
GB_London, The British Museum
Inventory:
G 538 (EA 35438)
References:
Michel, BM, no. 144; Michel, DMG, no. 19.6_3
Material:
haematite (black)
Dimensions:
15 x 14 x 2 mm
Dating:
3rd c. AD (Michel)
Iconography:
animal: crocodile; scepter, was; Harpocrates seated with knees drawn up; solar disk; scorpion; scarab; bird: ibis; bird: falcon
Divine Names & Voces:
Ἰάω; Σαβαώθ
A: Harpocrates sitting to left on the back of a crocodile. His knees are drawn up and he is holding a was-scepter with both his arms in front of his body. On the top of the head the solar disk. Around Horus: a scorpion, a scarab, an ibis, an uraeus and a falcon.
B: Inscribed in three lines: ιαω|σαβα|ωθ → Ἰάω, Σαβαώθ.
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 scheme represented on the gem is a descendant of the Horus on a lotus flower scheme.
Bibliography
Michel, BM on CBd-543
The British Museum Collection database on CBd-543
Last modified: 2020-12-31 12:40:54
Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/543
CITE THIS PAGE
CBd-543. 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/543 on 08-10-2024.
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