Jasper gem: Anubis with Osiris-mummy (A) characteres and vocales (B)

PP-ID:

PP-1096

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

US-NY-MET-GRA_10.130.1393

Collection:

New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Department of Greek and Roman Art

Collection Inventory:

10.130.1393

Reference Numbers:

Bonner, SMA D. 8; Michel, DMG, no. 39.5.b_1; CBd, no. 1096

Former Collections:

Miller Gould Shepard, Helen (1868–1938)

Material:

jasper, green to black

Dimensions:

22 × 29 mm × 3 mm

Date:

ca. 2nd–3rd century CE (MET website)

Iconography:

Anubis; wig; kilt; greeting gesture; key (3-bitted); Osiris; mummy; solar disk; mummy wrappings; lying posture; lion; Isis; Nephthys; Isis crown; unspecified long dress; protective gesture

Divine Names & Voces:

Ἀβρασάξ; Βαϊνχωωωχ; vocales, αεηιουω

Dark gray jasper. Transverse oval, both faces flat.

(Shape 8). Relatively intact, the edges show minor chippings. There is a larger diagonal crack on side A, and a smaller one on side B, which also continues on the edge.

Side A: The scene on the obverse is positioned on a baseline. A bandaged mummy of Osiris, its head crowned with the solar disk, lies diagonally to left on the back of a lion, which strides towards the left. The jackal-headed Anubis stands behind them, facing left. He is clad in a kilt (?), his right hand raised in greeting, his left hand holding a large, three-bitted key. The winged goddesses Isis and Nephthys stand to the left and right of the scene. Both wear a crown with cow's horns and tall double feathers, and raise their winged arms protectively towards the mummy of Osiris. The inscription, which encircles the scene, begins at bottom left: βαινχωωωχαβρασαξ → Βαϊνχωωωχ, Ἀβρασάξ.
Side B: Inscribed in three lines, consisting of two lines of eight characteres and the Greek vowel series in the last line: αεηιουω.

Selected bibliography
• Bonner, SMA >>, 254, D. 8; click here for the full-text excerpt.

Further resources on PP-1096

• The MET Collections

✓

Last modified:

2025.08.16 17:22:42

Permalink:

https://phoinixplatform.org/object/1096

Cite this page