Magical gem: Greek inscription, characteres (A) Multiple-headed figure (B)
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CBd-Number:
CBd-852
ID-Number:
GB-BM-MMEu_G 472, EA 56472
Collection:
GB_London, The British Museum
Inventory:
G 472 (EA 56472)
References:
Michel, BM, no. 494; Bonner, SMA D. 267
Material:
lapis lazuli (blue)
Dimensions:
28 x 30 x 3 mm
Dating:
3rd–4th c. AD (Michel)
Iconography:
tabula ansata; figure, with multiple heads; Ouroboros; wreath
Divine Names & Voces:
Ἰάω; voces, unidentified; vocales; αβλαριμαθα; Θώθ?
Logoi:
ιωερβη-logos
A: Fragment. Rest of an Ouroboros, head at bottom to right, body topped with unusual, sharp triangles. Within the Ouroboros, rest of an inscription in five lines: [- -]ωχιθιαορηια|[- -]θιοφαιηυεηρ|[- -]αηοηηχοικρ|[- -]θηκριχοριαιε|[- -]θυωοαθη[- -]ε → unidentified voces including variant of Θώθ?. Below: characteres in two lines.
B: Frontal view of a composite figure, standing atop a tabula ansata: a square serves as its upper body, clothing indicated with diagonal notches, genitals with a ’pretzel-shaped’ element. On the shoulders seven diagonal notches support three heads: on the left, an ibis-head, in the middle a bull’s head, on the right a lion’s head (Isis-Hathor-Hecate?). Right hand lowered beside the body and holding a wreath, enclosing the letters ε and α. Inscription in three lines within the tabula ansata: αβλαριμαθα|βηιωοακερ|ιωβολχσ → voces including αβλαριμαθα, part of ιωερβη-logos. Inscription on the left in seven lines: ιαωιεου|ιαηιασιθ|ωιαεωα|θωουαω|ουιαωου||ιαεουιαεω|υαεαι → vocales including Ἰάω.
Bibliography
Michel, BM on CBd-852
Bonner, SMA on CBd-852
Last modified: 2014-10-24 13:38:04
Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/852
CITE THIS PAGE
CBd-852. 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/852 on 11-12-2023.
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