A roman magic yellow jasper intaglio. Rare depiction of anguipes Anubis wearing military clothing, surrounded by magic inscriptions. In this case we are dealing with a combination of the typical gnostic figure of the armed, anguipes cock and Anubis; the latter usually being present on magic gems only as psychopomp and embalmer. Very rarely only, the "roman" type of Anubis is attested, the one wearing military clothes, holding sword and shield, in order to symbolize the power that this god has on the evil forces that are threatening the dead. The specific connotation of anguipes seems to furtherly allude to the role of guardian of the tombs, since in egyptian mithology guardians in the form of snakes surveiled the doors of the graves. The back of the gem, border included, is entirely covered with magic inscriptions to be identified. Peculiar choice of the stone, a yellow jasper, veined in red and brown, with an allusion to the military and celestial scope. 2nd-3rd century A.D. For any insight on the iconography, bibliographical references and comparisons: Attilio Mastrocinque, Sylloge Gemmarum Gnosticarum, vol. 1, pp. 188-196.
16 x 25 x 6 mm