amulet;
intaglio
- Museum number
- 1880.3603
- Description
-
Christian amulet (?) Oval, green heliotrope (bloodstone) intaglio with bevelled edges, depicting a mythical beast with the head of a donkey, body and wings of a bird, and four (?) legs; surrounded by potent and simple crosses and, upper left, three Greek letters ΛΡΗ or ΛΡΙ +.
- Production date
- 5thC-7thC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 15 millimetres
-
Thickness: 4.50 millimetres
-
Width: 21 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- E. Errington: The Islamic equivalent is the Buraq, the winged horse/donkey/mule associated with Muhammad's isra' (night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and back) and with his ascent to Heaven. But the crosses and Greek letters suggest the image is Christian.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1880
- Acquisition notes
- Probably purchased by Masson in Kabul bazaar, 1833-8.
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 1880.3603
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: IM.Gems.60 (British Museum no.: India Museum collection)