Moss agate gem: Goddess on hippocampus, Pan (A) characteres (B)

PP-ID:

PP-5018

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel-HKH_Ge 186

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 186

Reference Numbers:

Capello 1702, no. 131; AGD III, no. Kassel 186; Michel, DMG, no. 55.3.c_3

Former Collections:

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

Material:

moss agate (white and green)

Dimensions:

19 × 15 × 8.3 mm

Iconography:

female figure; crown, unspecified; veil; hippocampus; Pan; feet, hoofed; pedum

Divine Names & Voces:

sign, unidentified

Greenish-yellow moss agate gem. Transverse oval, both faces flat. (Shape 8–9). Severe damage on the right side of side A. Post-antique.

Side A: Goddess (Zazoff: Cybele) in a long dress, seated on a galloping hippocampus with a horse's forequarters and a large fish tail, wearing a crown and a veil on her head. She holds the animal’s mane with her left hand, while her right hand clasps that of Pan, who holds a pedum in his left hand. Pan's head is missing due to the breakage.
Side B: Characteres in three lines.

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 21, no. 131 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Montfaucon 1719 >>, vol. 2,2, 366, pl. 161F (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 244–245, no. 186.
• Michel, DMG >>, no. 55.3.c_3.

Further resources on PP-5018
• Hessen Kassel Heritage Online
• Antiquitatum Thesaurus