Red jasper gem: Anguipes and Greek inscription

PP-ID:

PP-4815

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

Int-Shick_Gn41

Collection:

Shick Family Collection (Europe – Israel)

Collection Inventory:

Gn41

Material:

jasper, red

Dimensions:

14.8 × 11 × 2.8 mm

Iconography:

Anguipes, cock-headed; armour?; shield; whip

Divine Names & Voces:

Ἰάω, variants

Red jasper gemstone. Upright oval gem with trapeziod section, both sides flat (Shape 8). Intact, surface slightly polished. The stone has banded layers, which is clearly visible on side C. On the obverse, dark spots are scattered across the red background.

Side A: Frontal view of the cock-headed Anguipes in armour. Right hand holding a whip, left hand holding a shield. Below the right hand, an F-shaped character. Below the figure: αιωα with a baseline → variant of Ἰάω.
Around the figure, the inscription can be read as Latin or – except for the letter 'r' – as Greek text. Starting from the left and viewed from the centre: rνα, star (or possibly a poorly carved k); on the right, viewed from the outside: αιϲιαμινιν → unidentified vox. On the left, next to the leg: ι.
Side B: Plain.

Ancient?