Spadini /comm. 2025/ on PP-4824

The iconography of the four zodiac signs on this gem diverges notably from the standardized typologies commonly found in antiquity: 

Sagittarius is not represented as a fully hybrid centaur-like figure but rather retains an equine head, deviating from the canonical depiction. 
Aquarius appears with a large vessel positioned at his feet – a motif for which no clear parallel has been identified in existing comparanda. 
Virgo is depicted in an orant pose, a gesture of prayer that is highly unusual for this zodiacal figure.
Taurus, instead of displaying the features of a bull, more closely resembles a wild boar.

These iconographic anomalies suggest that the gem is of post-antique origin. During the post-classical period, significant shifts in the visual representation of zodiac signs are documented. For example, the crab traditionally associated with Cancer is replaced by a lobster, and Capricorn is occasionally rendered as an ordinary goat. Unlike the classical tradition, where iconographic conventions were relatively stable, later periods exhibit a greater degree of variation in zodiacal imagery.

Fabio Spadini, 2025