Heliotrope gem: Anguipes (A) Greek text (B)

PP-ID:

PP-1620

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel-HKH_Ge 127

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 127

Reference Numbers:

Capello 1702, no. 14; AGD III, no. Kassel 127; Michel 2001, no. 55; Mastrocinque, SGG I, no. 234

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:

46.8 × 28.8 × 7 mm

Iconography:

Anguipes, cock-headed; armour; shield with Ἰάω; whip

Divine Names & Voces:

voces, unidentified

Logoi:

Ἰαεω‑palindrome

Upright oval, both sides flat. (Shape 8–9). Severe damage around the edge suggests that the gem may have been pried out of a setting. It may have been part of a ring, or more likely, due to its large size, a pendant.

Side A: Frontal view of the cock-headed Anguipes in armour. Right hand raised and holding a whip, left hand hidden behind a round shield. In the shield: ιαη. There is an inscription in three concentric circles around the figure.
From top left above the whip: ιαε[ωβαφρε]νεμουνοθιλαρικριφ[ιαευ]εα[ιφιρ]κιραλιθονυομενερφαβωεαι → Ἰαεω-palindrome.
In the middle from top: κυριε βλρβλα θωχ βιβαρθε βιβιου θωβαρα.
Inner circle from left βαυωθ εουη ηιαω.

Side B: Greek text in eleven lines, and traces of three more, probably intentionally erased: δοσμο|ιχαριν|νικηνοτι|ειρηκασο|υτοκρυπτ|ονκαιαλη|θινονονο|μαηδηηδη|ταχοσταχ|οσεμοιφρ|οντινη[|---|---|---η]

Side C: κεαλιξανδρα → (A-C) Κύριε ... voces ... δός μοι χάριν, νίκην ὅτι εἴρηκά σου τό κρυπτὸν καὶ ἀληθινὸν ὄνομα, ἤδη ἤδη τάχος τάχος, ἐμοὶ, Φροντίνῃ, [|---|---|---η] κὲ Ἀλεξάνδρᾳ. (Alterations from Michel 2001 are based on close observation of the gem by Á. M. Nagy, 2025.)

For the text on side B, see also a jasper gem in the Museo Civico Correr, Venice /SGG II, no. VeC 5/.

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 3, no. 14 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Montfaucon 1719 >>, vol. 2,2, 359, pl. 147A (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Bonner, SMA >>, 48–49.
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 226–227, no. 127.
• Mastrocinque 1998b >>, 121–122.
• SGG I >>, 288–289, no. 234.
• Michel 2001, 59–60, no. 55; click here for the full-text excerpt.