Heliotrope gem: Anguipes, σουμαρθα (A) vox (B)

PP-ID:

PP-2344

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

US-Malibu-Getty_83.AN.437.48

Collection:

Malibu, The J. Paul Getty Museum

Collection Inventory:

83.AN.437.48

Reference Numbers:

Michel, DMG, no. 3.A.1.l_2; CBd, no. 2344

Former Collections:

Mezzacappa, Damon (1936–2015, New York)

Material:

jasper, green and red

Dimensions:

18 × 14 mm

Iconography:

Anguipes, cock-headed; armour; shield, inscribed; whip; tabula ansata

Divine Names & Voces:

voces, unidentified; σουμαρτα and variants; καρβασμαρβας

Green and red jasper (heliotrope) gem; upright oval, both sides flat, trapezoid section. (Shape 8–9). Intact, save for small chips along the edge.

Side A: Standing figure of a cock-headed Anguipes in armour, to front, head to left. There is a whip in his raised right hand, and an inscribed (?) round shield in his left. The figure stands above a tabula ansata inscribed in one line: σουμαρτα → σουμαρtα.
Side B: Six lines of Greek inscription: σου|μαρτ|ακαρ|βασμ|αρβα||σ → σουμαρτα, καρβασμαρβας.