Carnelian gem: Human-headed quadruped with snake

PP-ID:

PP-5025

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel-HKH_Ge 196

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 196

Reference Numbers:

Capello 1702, no. 101; AGD III, no. Kassel 196

Former Collections:

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

Material:

carnelian, yellow to orange

Dimensions:

16.7 × 12.8 × 5.1 mm

Iconography:

quadruped, unspecified; snake; moon, crescent; star

Divine Names & Voces:

voces, unidentified; Ἀβρασάξ, variants

Carnelian gem. Transverse oval. Side A slightly convex, side B flat. (Shape 6). Minor damage at the top of side B. Polished. Probably post-antique.

Side A: Plain.
Side B: Human-headed quadruped (lion?) on a baseline, moving to the left. Short lines before the mouth may indicate spitting (fire?). Above the figure, a snake, also heading to the left. At the upper edge, a crescent moon with a star. Above the snake, Greek inscription: σαξβρα → variant of Ἀβρασάξ; below the quadruped, two further lines: αβρωθλεμμ|αοα → unidentified vox.

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 16, no. 101 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Montfaucon 1719 >>, vol. 2,2, 378, pl. 176A (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 248, no. 196.

Further resources on PP-5025
• Hessen Kassel Heritage Online
• Antiquitatum Thesaurus