Talismans - Magical gem: Anguipes (A) Helios standing on lion (B)

Magical gem: Anguipes (A) Helios standing on lion (B)

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CBd-Number:

CBd-657

ID-Number:

GB-BM-MMEu_G 325, EA 56325

Collection:

GB_London, The British Museum

Inventory:

G 325 (EA 56325)

References:

Michel, BM, no. 259; Michel, DMG, no. 22.2.d_1

Former Collections:

Chester, Greville John (1830–1892)

Material:

jasper, green and red

Dimensions:

20 x 24 x 4 mm

Dating:

3rd c. AD (Michel)

Iconography:

weapon: armour; clothing: mantle; weapon: shield; Helios; animal: lion; globus; moon, crescent; stars (5); Anguipes

Divine Names & Voces:

Ἀβρασάξ; Ἀβλαναθαναλβα, palindrome; Ἰάω; vocales; Φρῆ and variants

A: Frontal view of Anguipes in armour and mantle, head lost. Right arm originally raised and holding a whip, left arm holding a round shield, with porpax and antilabe visible. Inscription below the figure: ιαω → Ἰάω. Remains of an inscription along the edge on the left, running vertically from bottom to top: αεη, above the shield: ε → vocales.
B: Helios standing to front on the back of a lion striding left. Helios is nude except for a chlamys thrown over the left shoulder. Head and the originally raised right arm are lost, in the outstretched left hand a globe. In the free field on the right: a lying crescent and five stars (two six-pointed and three eight-pointed). Rest of an inscription around the edge, beginning next to the globe and running to right: [- -]λαναθαναλβααβρα[- -] → Ἀβλαναθαναλβα-palindrome, Ἀβρα[σάξ]. In the second line on the left: φρην → variant of Φρῆ.

Bibliography
Michel, BM on CBd-657
The British Museum Collection database on CBd-657

Last modified: 2019-10-28 15:28:19

Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/657

CITE THIS PAGE

CBd-657. 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/657 on 09-03-2025.