Bonner, SMA – PDF, 300.

the example of Revelation 16, 5, δίκαιoς and iustus are not in common liturgical use, and a personal name would be expected. It is in fact the name Justus, here treated as indeclinable. In Coptic usage many Greek names of men were fixed as indeclinable with the ending epsilon, thus resembling the vocative case. Justus is so treated in Coptica, III, No. 94, 1; 102, 14; 103, 8; 113, 2. (I owe this explanation and the references to Mrs. E. M. Husselman.) The ring came from Upper Egypt (Abydos), and the writing indicates a period when Coptic idiom could exert some influence. The meaning is “Jesus, help Justus.”

Upright oval, 19 X 10.

Walters Art Gallery 42.875

Obv. Ouroboros with head at top enclosing, above, Iαω πάvτωv δέσπoτα; at middle, three large ring signs; at bottom, ιαηιεηιoυωηιη. A similar stone was published by Mouterde, Mélanges Univ. St.-Joseph, 15, 72.

Rev. Plain.

Carnelian, grayish brown with dark-brown spots. Transverse oval, 31 X 22 Χ 4.

Obv. Ouroboros enclosing at the top two large characters, and under them three smaller ones, the first of which is epsilon; under these, Evμαvoυηλ.

Rev. Plain.

Sard. Transverse oval, 19 X 16 X 5.

Brummer

Obv. Ouroboros enclosing in upper center a curious design like a shield with boss, from which six short lines in pairs project below; from the upper rim projects something like a crude suggestion of a human head and neck. Divided by this design, three-line inscription, βαρoυι εσιλα σαβαωθ αδωvε μαρμαραωθ εθωυθ. Below, two ring signs and circle with diameters; at bottom, three characters.

Rev. Plain.

Brown jasper. Transverse oval, 21 X 17 X 3. Slightly chipped at top.

Brummer

Obv. In four lines, Ἣλιoς αβλαvαθαvαλβα σελήvη αβλαvαθαvαλβα.

Rev. In three lines, ἈθηvἈᾶ Iαω αβλαvαθαvαλβα. The appearance of the name Athena with magical words is, I think, unexampled.

Crystal. Transverse oval, ca. 26 X 16 X 9. Obv. convex, rev, flat, edge beveled. Set in gold with suspension loop.

Brooklyn Museum 37.1755h

Obv. Lion-headed god standing to r., wearing headcloth and apron. Disk with uraei on head, ankh in r. hand, in l., tall staff with lion's head on top. The figure is encircled with two lines of writing, the end of a long inscription which begins on the reverse side. For transcription and translation see p. 183 ff.

Rev. See p. 184 f.

Red jasper veined with black. Upright oval, 25 Χ 20.

Obv. Ouroboros enclosing the following inscription:

ιεoυωηιαηα
ιηωυoθ αβρααμ
ισακ ιακωβ αραχ ια
ω αβραθ ιαω βαρβαρα
διαvα . . α αμoραχθι σαλαμ
αξα βαμεαζα σαμαζαμoυ
δαθιωθαρμαραθεσιστωαβ
αδαλαακαρηβελθιoυηθειαθ
αρδηβητακoρρoυθιεπιστω
ελληιθααθαλλεαμεvιωεξ
αιωτovτρωδααvαvα
βλαλλμαιασαυαμθ
μεμωηχφεωχθεχ
θιφιχμεηλαθαρ
αβαρωθθαρ.
βιαωθ

Words are separated in lines 2–6 because they contain known elements. After the names of the three patriarchs, read (β)αραχ Iαω, “Blessed be JHVH,” the beta being omitted by haplography. The word at the beginning of line 5 should have been αιαvαχθα (αιαvαγβα), which, with the three following words, makes a common magical formula of

<<previous     next>>