Chalcedony gem: Ouroboros, Greek inscription (A) leaf pattern (B)

PP-ID:

PP-5029

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel-HKH_Ge 202

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 202

Reference Numbers:

Capello 1702, no. 113; AGD III, no. Kassel 202

Former Collections:

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

Material:

chalcedony, white to brown/grey

Dimensions:

28 × 23 × 11.3 mm

Iconography:

Ouroboros; branch

Divine Names & Voces:

voces, unidentified; Ἰάω

Logoi:

ιαρβαθα-logos

Brownish white chalcedony gem. Transverse oval, convex on both sides with a sharp central ridge, lentoid. (Shape 1). Minor damage on the right side of side A. Lightly polished.

Side A: Ouroboros, with head at top to left, enlosing five lines of Greek inscription: βωχχωνι|αωιαρβαθαγ|ραμνηφιβ|λοχνημ|εω → voces including Ἰάω and the ιαρβαθα-logos.
Side B: Leaf or branch pattern.

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 19, no. 113 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Montfaucon 1719 >>, vol. 2,2, 369, pl. 165F (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 250, no. 202.

Further resources on PP-5029
• Hessen Kassel Heritage Online
• Antiquitatum Thesaurus