A ROMAN BLOODSTONE "MAGIC" GEM

CIRCA 3RD-4TH CENTURY A.D.

Details

A ROMAN BLOODSTONE "MAGIC" GEM
circa 3rd-4th century a.d.
One side of the flat oval stone engraved with the anguipede and cock-headed solar deity Abrasax, the cuirassed body frontal, a round shield in his left hand, a whip in his upraised right hand, framed by the letters IAW; the other side with a three line palindromic inscription, BLAN AQANAL BA
1 in. (2.5 cm) high

Lot Essay

The obverse palindromic inscription is constructed upon the Jewish invocation Lanu atha ab - "Thou art Father" or "Father come to us." For a similar example see Henig, Classical Gems, Ancient and Modern Intaglios and Cameos in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, no. 509.

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