Heliotrope gem: Cock-headed Anguipes with stars and voces (A) Helios wih stars and voces (B)

PP-ID:

PP-4305

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE-München-Münzsammlung_2911

Collection:

München, Staatliche Münzsammlung

Collection Inventory:

2911

Reference Numbers:

Michel, DMG, no. 22.2.d_4; CBd, no. 4305

Material:

jasper, green and red

Dimensions:

27 × 18 × 6.5 mm

Iconography:

Helios; rays (5); greeting gesture; whip; stars (12); Anguipes, cock-headed; mantle; shield; armour

Divine Names & Voces:

Φρῆ and variants; σεμεσειλαμ and variants

Logoi:

Ἀβλαναθαναλβα, variants

Green and red jasper with yellow spots (heliotrope). Upright oval, both sides flat. (Shape 8–9). Broken, the lower half is missing.

Side A: The standing figure of Helios crowned with five rays. He is nude, save for a mantle thrown over his left arm, and holds a whip in his left hand, while raising his right in a greeting gesture. Twelve eight-pointed stars in the free field around the figure, unidentified object with a cross-hatched pattern behind Helios. Greek inscription running along the edge: [---]φρηναβλανα[---] → voces including Φρῆ and a part of the Ἀβλαναθαναλβα-palindrome.
Side B: Frontal view of a cock-headed Anguipes wearing armour (snake-legs in the lacuna). The figure holds a round shield in his left hand and a whip in his raised right hand. Twelve eight-pointed stars in the free field. Greek inscription running along the edge: [---]εσειλ[---] → part of σεμεσειλαμ (?).

Selected bibliography
• Brandt, AGD I >>, no. 2911.