E01322
Inscriptions - Inscribed objects
Images and objects - Rings and seals
Images and objects - Other portable objects (metalwork, ivory, etc.)
Literary - Magical texts and amulets
Gem:
An oval gem (calcined agate) with a low-relief of a head to the left. Designed to be set in a ring or a seal. The inscription runs from left to right on the lower margin. First transcribed by Archibald Sayce.
Ἰάω, Μιχ[αήλ]
'Iao, Michael'
Text: Salamine de Chypre XIII, no. 405.
The gem was inscribed with the names of Michael the Archangel and God as Iao (one of the Greek renderings of the name of God, frequently used in magical texts by Jews, Christians, and pagans). Sayce considered it to be a gnostic amulet.
Glass amulet:
A rectangular blue glass amulet with oblique corners, found in 1877 in a tomb at Salamis by Alessandro Palma di Cesnola.
Ἰάω,
Μιχ-
αὴλ,
Ῥαφ-
αήλ
'Iao, Michael, Raphael'
Text: Salamine de Chypre XIII, no. 414.
Palma di Cesnola describes this object as probably a part of a protective necklace, worn by a child. He associated it with gnosticism, just like the gem.
It is obvious that such gems and pieces of glass were used as protective amulets (phylakteria), and worn by their owners. Various kinds of stones were credited with different magical properties and selected regarding the desired effect. However, this kind of charm could be equally well used by Christians, Jews, and pagans, and there is no reason to associate the owners with gnosticism.
Dating: There is no reliable method to date these objects, as they were very popular in the Roman and late antique period.
Prayer/supplication/invocation
Magic
MiraclesOther miracles with demons and demonic creatures
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesChildren
Demons
Cult Related ObjectsOther
Source
Both the gem and the glass amulet were first published in 1882 by Alessandro Palma di Cesnola (transcription of the gem inscription by Archibald Sayce), together with a number of similar objects, that could not be associated with the Christian religion. All of them were found in Cyprus, during the excavations supervised by the Palma di Cesnola brothers.Now probably in the Cesnola Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York).
Bibliography
Edition:Gem:
Pouilloux, J., Roesch, P., Marcillet-Jaubert J. (eds.), Salamine de Chypre XIII Testimonia Salaminia 2. Corpus épigraphique (Paris: Diffusion de Boccard, 1987), no. 405.
Palma di Cesnola, A., Salaminia (Cyprus): the history, treasures, & antiquities of Salamis in the island of Cyprus, with an introduction by Samuel Birch (London: Whiting & Co., 1884, 2nd ed.), 152, no. 52.
Glass amulet:
Pouilloux, J., Roesch, P., Marcillet-Jaubert J. (eds.), Salamine de Chypre XIII Testimonia Salaminia 2. Corpus épigraphique (Paris: Diffusion de Boccard, 1987), no. 414.
Palma di Cesnola, A., Salaminia (Cyprus): the history, treasures, & antiquities of Salamis in the island of Cyprus, with an introduction by Samuel Birch (London: Whiting & Co., 1884, 2nd ed.), 175.
Images
)
Gem; from: Palma di Cesnola 1884, 152.
)
Glass amulet; from: Palma di Cesnola 1884, 175.
Paweł Nowakowski
30/04/2016
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00181 | Michael, the Archangel | Μιχαήλ | Certain | S00481 | Raphael, the Archangel | Ῥαφαήλ | Certain |
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Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Paweł Nowakowski, Cult of Saints, E01322 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E01322