Jasper gem: Anguipes

PP-ID:

PP-4993

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel-HKH_Ge 132

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 132

Reference Numbers:

Capello 1702, no. 67; Michel, DMG, no. 3.A.1.i_1; AGD III, no. 132

Former Collections:

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

Material:

jasper, green to black

Dimensions:

20 × 15.1 × 3.7 mm

Iconography:

Anguipes, cock-headed; armour; shield with Ἰάω; whip; palm branch

Divine Names & Voces:

voces, unidentified; Ἰάω; vocales

Grayish brown jasper. Upright oval gem, side A slightly convex, side B flat. (Shape 6). Intact.

Side A: Frontal view of the cock-headed Anguipes in armour. Right hand raised high and holding a whip, left hand hidden behind an oval shield. On the left side of the gem, a palm branch. Inscription in the shield: ιαω | ιη | υιι | ωαι | ωχχ|ι → Ἰάω, vocales, unidentified vox. Around the shield: ιηωιουβδιωηωυχ χιη → vocales, unidentified vox. Above and on the left of the figure: ηαωιο → vocales. On the right edge of the gem: ενηλσιπσσχ (some letters or letter-like signs in mirror writing or rotated) → unidentified vox, characteres.

Side B: Plain.

Differences from AGD are based on Á. M. Nagy's close reading of the piece in October 2024.

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 12, no. 67 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Montfaucon 1719 >>, vol. 2,2, pl. 147B (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 228, no. 132.