Steatite gem: Anubis, Isis; ibis tied to altar (A), Chnoubis-sign; πέπτε, ἐπικόπτε, πέπτε (B)

PP-ID:

PP-2372

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

US-Malibu-Getty_84.AN.1.85

Collection:

Malibu, The J. Paul Getty Museum

Collection Inventory:

84.AN.1.85

Reference Numbers:

Michel, DMG, no. 30.3.d_4; CBd, no. 2372

Former Collections:

Mezzacappa, Damon (1936–2015, New York)

Material:

steatite (?)

Dimensions:

25.3 × 20 × 6 mm

Iconography:

Anubis; clothing, unspecified; situla?; scepter, unspecified; Isis; unspecified long dress; ibis, tied to altar; altar; cord; Chnoubis-sign

Black steatite gem; side A upright, side B transverse oval, both flat, edge rounded. (Shape 8c–9c). Intact.

Side A: Jackal-headed Anubis standing in profile to the right on the left side. There is a vessel (situla?) in his right hand and a scepter (?) in his left; he faces Isis, who wears a long dress and the double feather crown. In the lower register, an ibis is shown striding in profile to the left, tied to an altar with a cord at the neck.
Side B: Chnoubis-sign and three lines of Greek inscription: πεπτε|επικοπτε|πεπτε → πέπτε, ἐπικόπτε, πέπτε. Approximate translation: 'Digest, shatter(?), digest!'