Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 66 9 Jan 2020
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Byzantine PB Cast 'Hystera' Amulet. 11th -13th centuries AD. 'Hystera', with seven serpents emanating from small central face to font; cross on globe below and letters Ξ-Ε-Η-Φ-Ε-C retrograde between serpent heads / Standing Imperial figure (Solomon?) wearing loros and crown, with hands raised in prayer; H/A/E/A in left field and Θ/Ε/C/Φ/Α/Ν/U in right. Spier pl. 2, 30. 15.49g, 42mm, 12h.
Very Fine; missing suspension loop. Extremely Rare.
From the collection of Italo Vecchi.
This class of amulets, which have been found in many forms including engraved gems and cameos, enamel pendants, die-struck bronze tokens and cast or engraved pendants and rings of gold, silver, bronze and lead, were meant to aid the "hystera' (womb) in some way and are usually accompanied with a Greek legend derived from the so-called 'hystera formula', which fully translates as: 'Womb, black, blackening, as a snake you coil and as a serpent you hiss and as a lion you roar, and as a lamb, lie down'. However, the identification of the image itself and the magical tradition to which it belongs remain much-discussed controversies.
The iconography depicts the 'holy rider' who subdues a prostrate female figure, thought to be a demon who harms children and pregnant women identified in Near Eastern and Greek mythology or folk tale as Abyzou, Gylou or Gello. From the Byzantine period, textual evidence of a child-harming demon comes from the un-canonical exorcism text known as the 'Testament of Solomon' which details that Solomon, in his legendary role as master of all demons, through the agency of a magic seal ring presented to him by the archangel Michael, compels various demons to assist him building the Temple in Jerusalem. One of those that assisted him is said to be a female who kills women and children, entering their homes 'like a serpent, like a dragon, or like some reptile.' In Greek tradition this female demon is called Melitene.
The rider has traditionally been identified as Solomon or Arlaph (archangel Raphael), but could also plausibly be identified as St. Sisinnios, who appears in a remarkable fresco at Bawin in Egypt, subduing a female demon labelled 'Alabastria' – one of the names of the demon Gylou attested in manuscripts.
Very Fine; missing suspension loop. Extremely Rare.
From the collection of Italo Vecchi.
This class of amulets, which have been found in many forms including engraved gems and cameos, enamel pendants, die-struck bronze tokens and cast or engraved pendants and rings of gold, silver, bronze and lead, were meant to aid the "hystera' (womb) in some way and are usually accompanied with a Greek legend derived from the so-called 'hystera formula', which fully translates as: 'Womb, black, blackening, as a snake you coil and as a serpent you hiss and as a lion you roar, and as a lamb, lie down'. However, the identification of the image itself and the magical tradition to which it belongs remain much-discussed controversies.
The iconography depicts the 'holy rider' who subdues a prostrate female figure, thought to be a demon who harms children and pregnant women identified in Near Eastern and Greek mythology or folk tale as Abyzou, Gylou or Gello. From the Byzantine period, textual evidence of a child-harming demon comes from the un-canonical exorcism text known as the 'Testament of Solomon' which details that Solomon, in his legendary role as master of all demons, through the agency of a magic seal ring presented to him by the archangel Michael, compels various demons to assist him building the Temple in Jerusalem. One of those that assisted him is said to be a female who kills women and children, entering their homes 'like a serpent, like a dragon, or like some reptile.' In Greek tradition this female demon is called Melitene.
The rider has traditionally been identified as Solomon or Arlaph (archangel Raphael), but could also plausibly be identified as St. Sisinnios, who appears in a remarkable fresco at Bawin in Egypt, subduing a female demon labelled 'Alabastria' – one of the names of the demon Gylou attested in manuscripts.