Chalcedony gem: Chnoubis, Greek inscription (A), characteres (B)

PP-ID:

PP-1625

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel-HKH_Ge 162

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 162

Reference Numbers:

Capello 1702, no. 105; Michel 2001, no. 66; Michel, DMG, no. 11.3.f_4; AGD III, no. Kassel 162

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:

22.3 × 16.6 × 8.6 mm

Iconography:

Chnoubis, lion-headed; Chnoubis-sign; rays; rays (12)

Divine Names & Voces:

vocales; Ἀβρασάξ; Ἰάω

Bluish brown chalcedony, both sides convex, lentoid. (Shape 1). Side A upright oval, side B transverse oval. Intact.

Side A: Lion-headed Chnoubis-snake to left, twelve rays around the head. Greek inscription around: ιαωιαηαβραιαχηιωφωζαω → voces including Ἰάω, variant of Ἀβρασάξ, vocales.
Side B: Characteres in three lines, including three Chnoubis-signs in the middle.

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 17, no. 105 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Montfaucon 1719 >>, vol. 2,2, 361, pl. 151C (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 237-238, no. 162.
• Michel 2001 >>, 68, no. 66; click here for the full-text excerpt.

Further resources on PP-1625
• Hessen Kassel Heritage Online
• Antiquitatum Thesaurus