Carnelian gem: Anguipes with stars (A) Greek inscription (B)

PP-ID:

PP-993

Classification:

gem, magical

Collection ID:

UK-BM-BEP_EA56061

Collection:

London, British Museum

Collection Inventory:

EA56061

Reference Numbers:

Michel, BM, no. 634; Michel, DMG, no. 3.A.1.n_8; CBd, no. 993

Former Collections:

Towneley, Edward Peregrine (1762–1846)

Material:

carnelian, red to brown

Dimensions:

20 × 14.5 × 5 mm

Date:

17th century AD (Michel)

Iconography:

Anguipes, cock-headed; armour; whip; shield; stars (6)

Divine Names & Voces:

voces, unidentified; Ἰάω, variants

Upright oval, orange carnelian gem, both faces flat. Intact. Acquired by the British Museum from the Towneley Collection in 1814.

Side A: Cock-headed Anguipes in armour, seen from the front, head in profile to the right. The figure raises his right hand and holds a whip, there is a shield in his left hand, porpax indicated. Six eight-pointed stars appear around the figure in the top left section of the free field; three horizontal notches and one vertical one are visible to the right. Below the figure: λλι → variant of Ἰάω? (S. Michel).
Side B: Greek inscription in mirror writing in four lines: γλα̣|ιχιλα̣|κγχ|σ → unidentified voces.

Probably designed after a gem in Chifletius–Macarius, Abraxas, see PP-2740. Both faces are mirrored.

Selected bibliography
• Michel, BM >>, 363, no. 634; click here for the full-text excerpt.
• Michel, DMG >>, no. 3.A.1.n_8.

Further resources on PP-993
• The British Museum Collection online
• Antiquitatum Thesaurus

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BBAW

Last modified:

2025.10.22 15:58:23

Permalink:

https://phoinixplatform.org/object/993

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