Heliotrope gem in a modern gold mount: Headless figure (A) Anguipes (B)

PP-ID:

PP-1111

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

US-NY-MET-GRA_95.15.1

Collection:

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

Collection Inventory:

95.15.1

Reference Numbers:

Goodenough, JS, III, no. 1205; Bonner, SMA D. 152; Michel, DMG, no. 3.A.3.h_8; CBd, no. 1111

Material:

jasper, green and red

Dimensions:

28 × 20 × 3 mm

Date:

2nd–3rd c. AD (MET) / post-antique(?) (Michel, DMG)

Iconography:

headless figure; tunic; kilt; shoes: boots; head (independent motif); hands, severed; Anguipes, cock-headed; armour; shield; whip

Divine Names & Voces:

Ἀβρασάξ; Ἀβλαναθαναλβα, palindrome; Ἰάω; Ἀκραμμαχαμαρεί and variants

Heliotrope gem in post-antique gold mount with suspension loop. Upright oval, both faces flat. (Shape 8–9). Intact.

Side A: Figure in tunic, kilt and boots, standing to front. He has no head and hands, blood sprouts from the neck and the wrists, severed hands are shown in the free field near the wrists, decapitated head in the upper right segment. Greek inscription around the edge, starting at bottom left: αβλαναθα[. .]λβααβρα[. .]ξ → Ἀβλαναθα[να]λβα, Ἀβρα[σά]ξ; to the left and right of the legs: ιαω → Ἰάω.
Side B: Cock-headed Anguipes in armour, to front, head turned right. Whip in his raised right hand, round shield, with porpax visible, in the left hand. Greek inscription around the egde, starting at bottom left: ακραμαχαμαρεηιουαοω → Ἀκραμμαχαμαρε<ί>, vocales.

Selected bibliography
• Bonner, SMA >>, 278, D. 52; click here for the full-text excerpt.
• Michel, DMG >>, 3.A.3.h_8.

Further resources on PP-1111
• The MET Collections