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magical gem
;
intaglio
Object Type
magical gem
intaglio
Museum number
1986,0501.97
Description
Magical gem; intaglio; black jasper; engraved on side A; bevelled edge on side B. Side A: Encircled, standing figure of Anubis (or Seth?), to right, wearing a kilt and peruke(?), and holding the hieroglyph 'ankh' in his left hand, staff and flail in his right hand. Next to the head: two stars and a crescent. Inscription around with the names of four archangels (Uriel, Suriel, Gabriel, Michael). Side B: Characters.
Cultures/periods
Late Roman
Production date
3rdC
Production place
Made in:
Mediterranean
(eastern Mediterranean)
Materials
magnetite
(?)
jasper
(? (black))
Technique
engraved
Dimensions
Height:
23 millimetres
Thickness:
3.50 millimetres
Width:
18 millimetres
$Inscriptions
Bibliographic references
Michel 2001 / Die Magischen Gemmen im Britischen Museum
(46)
Bonner 1950 / Studies in magical amulets, chiefly Graeco-Egyptian
CBd / The Campbell Bonner Magical Gems Database Online
(425)
(http://classics.mfab.hu/talismans/cbd/425)
Location
Not on display
Subjects
religious object
myth/legend
moon
ancient egyptian deity
angel
Associated names
Representation of:
Seth
(?)
Representation of:
Anubis
Named in inscription:
Archangel Uriel
Named in inscription:
Archangel Gabriel
Named in inscription:
Archangel Michael
Acquisition name
Purchased from:
Jack Ogden Ltd
Acquisition date
1986
Department
Britain, Europe and Prehistory
Registration number
1986,0501.97