Talismans - Magical gem: Animal-headed figure surrounded with animals (A) Anguipes (B)

Magical gem: Animal-headed figure surrounded with animals (A) Anguipes (B)

Download PDF

CBd-Number:

CBd-841

ID-Number:

GB-BM-MMEu_G 218, EA 56218

Collection:

GB_London, The British Museum

Inventory:

G 218 (EA 56218)

References:

Michel, BM, no. 483; Michel, DMG, no. 27.4.b_2

Former Collections:

Eastwood, George

Material:

haematite (black)

Dimensions:

26 x 18.5 x 3.5 mm

Dating:

3rd–4th c. AD (Michel)

Iconography:

Ouroboros; figure, with indistinct animal head; bird: swallows (4); gesture, ithyphallic; star; whip; weapon: shield, with Ἰάω; weapon: armour; Anguipes, cock-headed; animal: crocodile; scarab, with outstreched wings; hieroglyph, ankh; birds (4)

Divine Names & Voces:

Ἰάω

Normal
0
21

false
false
false

MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

A: Enclosed within an Ouroboros, head in profile to right, an ithyphallic human figure with snake-neck and -head represented from above, or ibis-head and -neck in profile (?). The figure holds an ankh-sign in his right hand, and is surrounded with animals: at the top, a scarab with outstretched wings, two swallows on both left and right, facing inwards, at the bottom, a crocodile, in profile to right. (For an interpretation, cf. CBd-2.)
B: Frontal view of a cock-headed Anguipes, in armour, right hand raised and holding a whip, left hand hidden behind a round shield, inscribed with ιαω → Ἰάω. In the free field to the left of the figure, a six-pointed star.

Bibliography
Michel, BM on CBd-841
Nagy 2012, comm. ad Bonner IV 60-61
The British Museum Collection database on CBd-841

Last modified: 2019-11-04 20:24:56

Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/841

CITE THIS PAGE

CBd-841. 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/841 on 09-03-2025.