Heliotrope gem: Helios in quadriga (A) Greek inscription (B)

PP-ID:

PP-1616

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel-HKH_Ge 157

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 157

Reference Numbers:

Capello 1702, no. 49; AGD III, no. Kassel 157; Michel 2001, no. 46; Michel, DMG, no. 28.11_5

Former Collections:

Patin, Charles (Paris, 1633 – Padua, 1693); Capello, Antonio (Venice, 1652–1729); Karl, Landgraf von Hessen-Kassel (Kassel, 1654–1730)

Material:

jasper, green and red

Dimensions:

24.5 × 21 × 3.5 mm

Iconography:

Helios; rays (7); mantle; whip; greeting gesture; quadriga; horse

Divine Names & Voces:

δαρυγκω, variants; κεντευ; κηριδευ; λυκυνξ and variants; σημέα and variants; κοντευ; κενγευ; voces, unidentified

Upright oval, both faces flat, trapezoid section. (Shape 8–9).
Dark, green-red jasper. Large piece broken off at the bottom, chipped edges. Set in a modern silver mount, which follows the damage to the stone, equipped with a suspension hoop.

Side A: On a baseline, quadriga, to front, with two horses turning to each side, two looking back towards the charioteer, Helios, also to front. The figure is crowned with seven rays, and wears a mantle draped over his left shoulder. He holds a whip in his left hand and raises his right in greeting.
Side B: Inscription in six lines: σημεω|κοντευ|κεντευ|κενγευ|χηριδευ||δαρυνγω
Side C: λυκυνζ|κανν[---]ρη → secret name of the seven planets, see the σημεα-logos.

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 9, no. 49 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Montfaucon 1719 >>, vol. 2,2, 366, pl. 161C (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 236, no. 157.
• Michel 2001, 52, no. 46; click here for the full-text excerpt.

Further resources on PP-1616
• Hessen Kassel Heritage Online.
• Antiquitatum Thesaurus