Chalcedony gem: Chnoubis (A) characteres (B)

PP-ID:

PP-1623

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel-HKH_Ge 163

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 163

Reference Numbers:

Michel 2001, no. 64; Michel, DMG, no. 11.2.a_14; AGD III, no. Kassel 163; Capello 1702, no. 182

Former Collections:

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

Material:

chalcedony, white to brown/grey

Dimensions:

18.1 × 13.4 × 8.6 mm

Iconography:

Chnoubis, lion-headed; Chnoubis-sign; stars (3)

Divine Names & Voces:

Χνουβίς

Milky brown chalcedony gem, upright oval, both faces strongly convex, lentoid. (Shape 1). Intact. The area around the head is slightly polished into an irregular square shape (see detail in fig. 3).

Side A: Lion-headed Chnoubis in profile to left, seven rays around the head. Three lines of engraving emerge from the lion's mouth as if spitting fire. Greek inscription on the left, from top to bottom: χνουβισ → Χνουβίς.
Side B: Characteres in three lines: three stars, Chnoubis-sign, three Z-signs.

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 30, no. 182 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Montfaucon 1719 >>, vol. 2,2, 361, pl. 152B (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 238, no. 163.
• Michel 2001 >>, 66, no. 64; click here for the full-text excerpt.

Further resources on PP-1623
• Hessen Kassel Heritage Online.
• Antiquitatum Thesaurus