Chalcedony gem: Greek inscription in Ouroboros (A) inscription and characteres (B)

PP-ID:

PP-1711

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel-HKH_Ge 201

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 201

Reference Numbers:

Capello 1702, no. 25; AGD III, no. Kassel 201; Michel 2001, no. 96; Michel, DMG, no. 28.2.c_2

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:

32.8 × 23 × 6.4 mm

Iconography:

Ouroboros; Chnoubis-sign

Divine Names & Voces:

Ἀβραάμ; Ἰάω; Σαβαώθ, variants

Logoi:

αιαναγβα-logos and variants

Light brown chalcedony gem. Upright oval, both faces very lightly convex. (Shape 8–9). Intact.

Side A: Enclosed within an Ouroboros with head at top to left, nineteen lines of Greek inscription:

1 ζτ?ιιισυ?
2 ?λοι?οζωην
3 χαριζομενονονομα
4 αβρααμειουχβρεντευ
5 ξινηγενοσοακλαιε
6 βαιαωθαλλαταβισ
7 νεχθηψηηιαωουεηαω
8 ουεκιυωουευειαοσεημ
9 ρειηωουιωηιαωυε
10 λωουχωκηραωχ
11 ιυενθανχωχαινχουχη
12 χευχεβαιευχεβευφβαι
13 οεινοαμζυρατη
14 ξειξοων
15 Characteres ορκιζ
16 ωσεαιανακβασα
17 λαμαζαβαμ
18 αιαζααμορα
19 χθι

→ χαριζόμενον ὄνομα 'graceful name'. (3) voces and characteres including Ἀβραὰμ (4) ὄρκιζω σε 'I adjure you' αιαναγβα-logos (15-19).

Side B: Characteres and inscription in nine lines:

6 ιαωθεοσσαβαω
7-8 ιαωυποσηνιαωθεοσ
9 διαφυλαξον

→ Voces including Ἰάω θεὸς Σαβαὼ διαφύλαξον. 'Protect me.'

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 5, no. 25 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Montfaucon 1719 >>, vol. 2,2, 369, pl. 135C (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 249–250, no. 201.
• Michel 2001 >>, 90, no. 96; click here for the full-text excerpt.
• Michel, DMG >>, no. 28.2.c_2.