Carnelian gem: Omphale as a pregnant woman (A) donkey (B)

PP-ID:

PP-1702

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel-HKH_Ge 187

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 187

Reference Numbers:

Capello 1702, no. 109; AGD III, no. Kassel 187; Michel 2001, no. 82; Michel, DMG, no. 54.9_6

Former Collections:

Capello, Antonio (Venice, 1652–1729)

Material:

carnelian, red to brown

Dimensions:

11.6 × 9 × 3.7 mm

Iconography:

Omphale; childbirth scene; club; donkey

Divine Names & Voces:

sign, unidentified; vocales; vocales, triads of

Red carnelian gem. Side A upright oval, side B transverse oval. Both sides are slightly curved and polished. Intact.

Side A: Omphale depicted as a pregnant woman in a squatting position, head in profile to the left. Hair in a bun, possibly with a diadem or ribbon. She holds a club pointing downwards in her right hand.
Side B: Donkey walking to the left, with three V-shaped signs (letters?) in the free field around the legs. Two horizontal lines appear between the legs, perhaps intended to indicate the donkey’s ithyphallic character.
For a similar composition with three Y-shaped signs (letters?) beneath the donkey, see PP-2338 and PP-3033.

This type of gem served as a gynecological amulet. On the topic, see Dasen, "Le secret d’Omphale", Revue Archéologique, 2008, 265–281 (on this gem in particular, pp. 268–269).

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 18, no. 109 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 245, no. 187.
• Michel 2001 >>, 79, no. 82; click here for the full-text excerpt.
• Michel, DMG >>, no. 54.9_6.

Further resources on PP-1702
• Hessen Kassel Heritage Online