Roman chalcedony magical gem
3rd century AD
Length: 1.7 cm
Of octagonal form, engraved on the obverse with a seated Jupiter in left profile shown holding a sceptre and thunderbolt with an eagle perched at his feet; on the reverse with a striding lion in left profile, holding a thunderbolt in its jaws, a crescent moon and two stars above and four stars below. The sides of the gem engraved in Greek with a magical inscription, reading ABRAXAS.
The image of the lion striding in left profile beneath a crescent moon and stars is a familiar device on Roman magical gems, and is typically used to symbolise the sun. The iconography has clear zodiacal significance, and it is also not uncommon for the lion to be associated with the planet Jupiter: hence why the lion is shown carrying the god's thunderbolt, while Jupiter himself appears on the opposite side of the stone. The inscription, ABRAXAS, appears on many gnostic gems and was a powerful magical word in antiquity. It is possible that the octagonal shape of this stone also had magical and/or religious significance.
Literature: For the lion on magical gems, see S. Michel, Die Magischen Gemmen im Britischen Museum (London, 2001), p. 156, nos. 253-256; also pp. 144-145, nos. 235-236 for examples with ABRAXAS. For other octagonal stones engraved with magical and Christian iconography, see J. Spier, Late Antique and Early Christian Gems (Wiesbaden, 2007), p. 35, pls. 22-23, nos. 163 and 167.
Provenance: Private collection, North Africa acquired in the 19th century, and thence by descent.
Enquire
3rd century AD
Length: 1.7 cm
Of octagonal form, engraved on the obverse with a seated Jupiter in left profile shown holding a sceptre and thunderbolt with an eagle perched at his feet; on the reverse with a striding lion in left profile, holding a thunderbolt in its jaws, a crescent moon and two stars above and four stars below. The sides of the gem engraved in Greek with a magical inscription, reading ABRAXAS.
The image of the lion striding in left profile beneath a crescent moon and stars is a familiar device on Roman magical gems, and is typically used to symbolise the sun. The iconography has clear zodiacal significance, and it is also not uncommon for the lion to be associated with the planet Jupiter: hence why the lion is shown carrying the god's thunderbolt, while Jupiter himself appears on the opposite side of the stone. The inscription, ABRAXAS, appears on many gnostic gems and was a powerful magical word in antiquity. It is possible that the octagonal shape of this stone also had magical and/or religious significance.
Literature: For the lion on magical gems, see S. Michel, Die Magischen Gemmen im Britischen Museum (London, 2001), p. 156, nos. 253-256; also pp. 144-145, nos. 235-236 for examples with ABRAXAS. For other octagonal stones engraved with magical and Christian iconography, see J. Spier, Late Antique and Early Christian Gems (Wiesbaden, 2007), p. 35, pls. 22-23, nos. 163 and 167.
Provenance: Private collection, North Africa acquired in the 19th century, and thence by descent.
Enquire
3rd century AD
Length: 1.7 cm
Of octagonal form, engraved on the obverse with a seated Jupiter in left profile shown holding a sceptre and thunderbolt with an eagle perched at his feet; on the reverse with a striding lion in left profile, holding a thunderbolt in its jaws, a crescent moon and two stars above and four stars below. The sides of the gem engraved in Greek with a magical inscription, reading ABRAXAS.
The image of the lion striding in left profile beneath a crescent moon and stars is a familiar device on Roman magical gems, and is typically used to symbolise the sun. The iconography has clear zodiacal significance, and it is also not uncommon for the lion to be associated with the planet Jupiter: hence why the lion is shown carrying the god's thunderbolt, while Jupiter himself appears on the opposite side of the stone. The inscription, ABRAXAS, appears on many gnostic gems and was a powerful magical word in antiquity. It is possible that the octagonal shape of this stone also had magical and/or religious significance.
Literature: For the lion on magical gems, see S. Michel, Die Magischen Gemmen im Britischen Museum (London, 2001), p. 156, nos. 253-256; also pp. 144-145, nos. 235-236 for examples with ABRAXAS. For other octagonal stones engraved with magical and Christian iconography, see J. Spier, Late Antique and Early Christian Gems (Wiesbaden, 2007), p. 35, pls. 22-23, nos. 163 and 167.
Provenance: Private collection, North Africa acquired in the 19th century, and thence by descent.