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Lot 299 - Auction 54

A roman, magic hematite intaglio. Allegorical, gnostic scene, referred to Harpocrates and the Hermopolitan myth. ... Read more

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Description

A roman, magic hematite intaglio. Allegorical, gnostic scene, referred to Harpocrates and the Hermopolitan myth. Harpocrates is sitting on a lotus flower, which springs from a solar boat. The young god has his right hand to his mouth, in his typical pose (holding the solar whip in his left hand), and is characterized by a solar crown. A scarab flies above, an allusion to egyptian cults. In the field, a star and several magic letters - inscriptions around the figure. The scene is surrounded by an engraved frame. An inscription (magic spell) is on the back of the bezel. The intaglio,partially intact, is left without a small side portion, anciently lost. This rare iconography of the radiated Harpocrates on the lotus and the solar boat finds specific validations in the sources. For any insight, comparison and the numerous bibliographical references: Attilio Mastrocinque, Sylloge Gemmarum Gnosticarum, vol. 1, pp. 150- 166. 2nd- 3rd century A.D.
13 x 25 x 3 mm

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