Bonner, SMA – PDF, 299.

having the stone engraved and sent to Euposia, who would understand it to mean τὸ πρoσκύvημα Eὐπoσίας ἐπoίησα παρὰ τῷ θεῷ. The objection to this explanation is that such words are normally inscribed in the precincts of a temple, not elsewhere. If the ring was not left there, the phrase becomes little more than one of compliment or affection, as it is in fact often employed at the opening of personal letters, the writers of which certainly did not worship in a temple every time that they used the words.

Rev. Plain.

Red jasper. Transverse oval, 12 Χ 9 Χ 3. Enlarged 2 X 1.

Obv. Ouroboros enclosing at l., six-rayed ring sign, at r., amphora holding two drooping branches with leaves and fruits (or flower buds). Below, Eυθεμ. This may be an abbreviation of the name Euthemon, with epsilon instead of eta, a common error; the rare adjective euthemitos is not attested as a name. But it is more likely that the engraver carelessly cut M for NI; εὐθέvι (l. εὐθέvει), “flourish,” “prosper,” would be an appropriate motto of good will, and the symbol of the plant is in harmony with the wish. A two-handled vase holding two ivy shoots with berries, originally a Dionysiac symbol, was cut on a cinerary urn in the Lateran Museum (W. Altmann, Grabaltäre der Kaiserzeit, No. 124, p. 99). In a mosaic from Daphne the border design is a rinceau growing from each side of a two-handled vase placed in the corner of the quadrangle (Antioch on the Orontes, II, No. 55, Pl. 45, 1 and 3, Princeton, 1938).

Rev. Plain.

Bloodstone. Transverse oval, 22 Χ 16 Χ 3.

Obv. Upper half of youthful male figure to front, head turned to l. Seven rays on head, whip in r. hand. L. arm apparently raised and hand held behind neck; or else this is only part of the chlamys, which is fastened below the neck and falls from l. shoulder. In that case the l. arm has been entirely neglected. On the chest four letters arranged thus .

Rev. Inscription beginning on bevel at l., encircling the stone, and finishing at the lower center of rev, face: ὁ μείζωv τῆς ὑπερoχῆς, ὁ τῆς δυvάμεως ἰσχυρότερoς, ὁ τῶv ἐvκoμίωv κρείσσωv μεvvαθ. With the exception of the unexplained μεvvαθ, perhaps a secret divine name, these words are from the hymn in Poimandres 31 (Corp. Herm., Lib. 1). See the previous publication of this stone, without illustration, in HTR 25, 362–365.

Brownish-red carnelian. Upright oval, 13 Χ 10. Obv. convex, rev, flat, edeg beveled.

The illustration is from an impression, reversed in photographing.

Obv. Iακωβ ακoυβτα Iαω βερω. See p. 171 for a possible interpretation.

Rev. Plain.

Red jasper. Transverse oval, 18 Χ 14 Χ 3.

Obv. εἷς θεὸς βoήθι Mαρκιάvηv in five lines.

Rev. En ka El Jeshurun, in Samaritan letters; see p. 180.

Haematite. Upright oblong, 33 X 19 Χ 3. Thin splinter lost from r. side.

Previously published in Joυrn. Royal Asiat. Soc., 1920, p. 343.

Obv. Ἰησoῦ Χριστὲ βoήθι τῷ φoρoῦvτι, “Jesus Christ, help the wearer.” The inscription is on the smaller face.

Rev. Plain.

Brown carnelian. Almost circular, 14 Χ 13 Χ 3.

Brooklyn Museum 16.151

Bezel of iron ring inscribed   Ioυστε. The abbreviations are to be expanded Ἰησoῦς βoήθει. Ioυστε has been previously read as a vocative addressed to Jesus, “thou Just One”; but despite

<<previous     next>>