Magical gem: Ouroboros enclosing naked woman (A) womb, scarab (B)
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CBd-Number:
CBd-759
ID-Number:
GB-BM-MMEu_G 389 (EA 56389)
Collection:
GB_London, The British Museum
Inventory:
G 389 (EA 56389)
References:
Bonner, SMA D. 145; Michel, BM, no. 388; Michel, DMG, no. 54.4.a_1
Former Collections:
Towneley Collection
Material:
jasper, red
Dimensions:
17 x 15 x 2 mm
Dating:
3rd c. AD (Michel)
Iconography:
Ouroboros; figure, female, pregnant; gesture, childbirth; uterus, octopus-like; stool, birthing
Divine Names & Voces:
κκκ; αρρωριφρασις and variants; ορωριουθ, variants; vocales, αεηιουω
A: Pregnant woman squatting naked over a birthing stool. Head in profile to left, long loose hair falling on the shoulders, hands grasping the arm-rests of the stool. The scene is encircled by an Ouroboros, head in profile to right. Inscription outside the Ouroboros, beginning above the head of the snake: αεηιουωθορωριφρασιοροριουθ → voces including the Greek voewel series, variant of αρρωριφρασις, ορωριουθ.
B: In the centre: a scarab crawling vertically upwards. Above: κκκ. Below: Octopus-like uterus.
Bibliography
Bonner, SMA on CBd-759
Michel, BM on CBd-759
Last modified: 2016-01-26 16:51:08
Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/759
CITE THIS PAGE
CBd-759. 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/759 on 26-01-2025.
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