Carnelian gem: Characteres and vocales enclosed in Ouroboros (A) Greek inscription (B)

PP-ID:

PP-1718

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel-HKH_Ge 205

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 205

Reference Numbers:

Capello 1702, no. 183; AGD III, no. Kassel 205; Michel 2001, no. 103; Michel, DMG, no. 28.13.a_6

Former Collections:

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

Material:

carnelian, yellow to orange

Dimensions:

17.5 × 14 × 5.3 mm

Iconography:

Ouroboros; snake; star

Divine Names & Voces:

voces, unidentified; vocales, αεηιουω

Orange carnelian gem. Transverse oval, both faces slightly convex. (Shape 4). Intact save for a small abrasion on side B.

Side A: Ouroboros with head at bottom to left, enclosing in the first line a Z-star-Z character series. In the second and third line: αεηιου|ω → the Greek vowel series, followed by another character.
Side B: Two lines of Greek inscription: χνημε|ιουεθι → unidentified voces. χνημεω from the ιαρβαθα-logos?

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 30, no. 183 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Montfaucon 1719 >>, vol. 2,2, 369, pl. 166D (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 251, no. 205.
• Michel 2001 >>, 94, no. 103; click here for the full-text excerpt.
• Michel, DMG >>, no. 28.13.a_6.