Dark green jasper gem: Solar child on lotus flower (A) Ἀβλαναθαναλβα-palindrome (B)

PP-ID:

PP-1655

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel-HKH_Ge 150

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 150

Reference Numbers:

Capello 1702, no. 112; AGD III, no. Kassel 150; Michel 2001, no. 12; Michel, DMG, no. 19.1.e_3

Former Collections:

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

Material:

jasper, green to black

Dimensions:

12.7 × 11 × 2.6 mm

Iconography:

solar child sitting on lotus flower; solar child seated with knees drawn up; hand raised to mouth; flail; lotus flower; lotus buds (2); lotus buds; star; baboon; orant / greeting gesture

Divine Names & Voces:

Ἀβλαναθαναλβα, variants

Dark green jasper, transverse oval, both faces flat, trapezoid section. (Shape 8–9). Chipped, about one third of the stone broken off and missing.

Side A: The solar child (Harpocrates) seated to the right on a lotus flower with two buds, right hand holding a flail, left hand raised to the mouth. Near the head, the remains of a star; below, probably the raised paws of an adoring baboon.
Side B: Inscription in three lines: λα|θανα|βα → variant of Ἀβλαναθαναλβα-palindrome.

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 18, no. 112 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Montfaucon 1719 >>, vol. 2,2, 365, pl. 158L (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 233, no. 150.
• Michel 2001 >>, 27–28, no. 12; click here for the full-text excerpt.
• Michel, DMG >>, no. 19.1.e_3.