Green-yellow jasper gem: Solar child on lotus flower (A) Ἀβλαναθαναλβα (B)

PP-ID:

PP-1101

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

US-NY-MMA-GRA_41.160.638

Collection:

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

Collection Inventory:

41.160.638

Reference Numbers:

Bonner, SMA D. 191; Michel, DMG, no. 19.1.a_20; CBd, no. 1101

Former Collections:

Gedney Beatty, William (1869–1941)

Material:

jasper, green and red

Dimensions:

29 × 23 × 5 mm

Date:

ca. 2nd–3rd c. AD (MM Coll. website)

Iconography:

solar child sitting on lotus flower; solar child seated with knees drawn up; hand raised to mouth; flails (2); lotus buds (2); primeval mound?; Ouroboros

Divine Names & Voces:

Ἀβλαναθαναλβα, palindrome; Ἰάω; vocales, αεηιουω

Green-yellow jasper (heliotrope), both faces upright oval and flat, trapezoid section. (Shape 8–9). Chipped, side B worn.

Side A: Solar child seated in profile to left on a lotus flower with two buds. Both knees drawn up, right hand raised to mouth, left hand holding two flails. Greek inscription around the edge, starting at top right: αεηιουωιαω → The Greek vowel series, Ἰάω. An Ouroboros-snake, with head at top, to right, encircles the scene.
Side B: αβλαναθαναλβα → the Ἀβλαναθαναλβα palindrome.

Selected bibliography
• Bonner, SMA >>, D. 191; click here for the full-text excerpt.

Further resources on PP-1101
• The MET Collections

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Last modified:

2025.09.12 11:42:07

Permalink:

https://phoinixplatform.org/object/1101

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