The CBd
 
 
Magical(?) gem: Scorpion with human head holding snakes (A) characteres (B)
CBd-Number:
CBd-722
ID-Number:
GB-BM-MMEu_G 396, EA 56396
Collection:
GB_London, The British Museum
Inventory:
G 396 (EA 56396)
References:
Bonner 1951, no. 39; Michel, BM, no. 345; Michel, DMG, no. 51.2
Former Collections:
Towneley Collection
Material:
jasper, green and red
Dimensions:
17 x 11 x 3 mm
Dating:
2nd–3rd c. AD (Michel)
Iconography:
scorpion, human-headed; snakes (2); crown, Isis-

A: Human-headed scorpion-figure standing on thin insect legs, and holding onto two snakes coiling vertically upwards, tails touching, heads turned outwards. The scorpion figure’s probably female head is crowned with the cow’s horns and the solar disk (Isis-crown).
B. Three letters or characteres (probably post-antique).


Normal
0
21


false
false
false







MicrosoftInternetExplorer4






According to S. Michel, the representation on the obverse is probably influenced by the Egyptian hieroglyph for Qjs (man holding necks of animals), but is also connected with the figure of the scorpion goddess, Selket (goddess with a scorpion on her head or scorpion with the head and arms of a woman), while recalling the decans list of Hermes Trismegistos (second decan of Scorpion). See below.

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography
Bonner 1951 on CBd-722
Michel, BM on CBd-722
The British Museum Collection database on CBd-722

Images
Cast of CBd-722 in the Gems Database of the Beazley Archive, Oxford

 

 

 

 

 

Last modified: 2019-10-28 15:29:28
Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/722
CITE THIS PAGE
CBd-722. 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/722 on 23-10-2024.

Image-ID 7780

Credits Photo: Christopher A. Faraone

Rights © Trustees of the British Museum

Image-ID 7781

Credits Photo: Christopher A. Faraone

Rights © Trustees of the British Museum

Image-ID 7782

Credits Photo: Christopher A. Faraone

Rights © Trustees of the British Museum

Image-ID 769

Credits From Michel, BM

Rights © Trustees of the British Museum

Image-ID 2228

Rights © Trustees of the British Museum

Image-ID 770

Credits From Michel, BM

Rights © Trustees of the British Museum

1
2
3
4
5
6
6 image(s) total