Yellow jasper gem: Planetary deities, zodiac signs (A) Tyche with planetary deities and zodiac signs

PP-ID:

PP-5757

Classification:

gem, astrological

Collection ID:

DE_Kassel_Ge 80

Collection:

Kassel, Antikensammlung, Hessen Kassel Heritage

Collection Inventory:

Ge 80

Reference Numbers:

Capello 1702, no. 8; AGD III, no. 80; Spadini forthcoming, no. 564

Former Collections:

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

Material:

jasper, yellow

Dimensions:

25 × 29 × 3.2 mm

Date:

2nd c. AD

Yellow jasper gem; upright oval, both faces flat. (Shape 8–9). Chipped at the edge.

Side A: At the centre, an eight-rayed star, surrounded by four zodiac signs, each surmounted by a planetary bust: starting from the top (noon position) and proceeding clockwise: Selene-Taurus, Jupiter-Aquarius, Helios-Virgo, Mercury-Leo.
Side B: At the top, Tyche, reclining on a couch and holding a rudder in her hands. Below the goddess, the busts of Mars and Venus are associated with the sign of Libra, while Saturn is placed beneath that of Capricorn. The gem depicts a personal horoscope; Tyche may be interpreted as a reference to the Lot of Fortune.

F. Spadini
w/ PP-team, 2025

Selected bibliography
• Capello 1702 >>, pl. 2, no. 8 (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Montfaucon 1719 >>, vol. 2,2, 378, pl. 175A (see Antiquitatum Thesaurus for details).
• Zazoff, AGD III >>, 216, no. 80.
• Spadini, forthcoming >>, no. 564.