Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 423 27 Jun 2018
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
BYZANTINE. Bronze amulet pendant. Circa 7th-8th centuries AD. Facing draped female facing bust, hair consisting of seven serpents (Medusa[?]); in fields, letters Z|O|Φ|H|O; below, four circlets on breast; border of dots in two concentric circles / +VCTEP|A MELANH ME|ΛANOMENH OC OΦ|HC ENTHΛHKΘH|CCE KE OC ΛEON B|PVXOVMENO|O KE OC Π(..)|BAT in eight lines. Diameter: 5.4cm. Cf. D. Papanikola-Bakirtze, Everday life in Byzantium (2002), pp. 486-488; J. Spier, Medieval Byzantine Amulets and their Tradition," Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes 56 (1993) 25-62. As made, brown surfaces, some deposits, with original suspension loop."
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 371 (23 March 2016), lot 1328.
The legend is a magic spell addressed to the womb, commanding it to calm down and remain in its proper place. It occurs in different forms but following the same formula on a number of Byzantine amulets. The formula begins 'Womb, black, blackening, you coil (?) like a dragon, roar (?) like a lion - lie down like a sheep What specific verbs are used is uncertain, but the structure is clear, as are serpent (ophes), lion (leon) and sheep (probaton)."
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 371 (23 March 2016), lot 1328.
The legend is a magic spell addressed to the womb, commanding it to calm down and remain in its proper place. It occurs in different forms but following the same formula on a number of Byzantine amulets. The formula begins 'Womb, black, blackening, you coil (?) like a dragon, roar (?) like a lion - lie down like a sheep What specific verbs are used is uncertain, but the structure is clear, as are serpent (ophes), lion (leon) and sheep (probaton)."