Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 94 24 Feb 2022
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Byzantine Æ Amulet. "Seal of Solomon', circa 6th-7th century AD. Circular inscription beginning at one o'clock clockwise: ΦЄVΓЄ ΜЄΜΙCΙΜЄΝΙ ΔΙΟΚΙ CЄΟ ΑΝΓΕΛΟC ΑΡΛΑΦ (Go away detestable, Angel Arlaf banishes you), between two words ΑΝΓΕΛΟC and ΑΡΛΑΦ, Archangel Raphael standing to left, holding cross above crouching Abyzou; in left field, figure with raised arms / Circular inscription beginning at one o'clock clockwise: [CΦ]ΡΑΓΙC COΛΟΜΟΝ[...]ΟΡΟVΓA (sic) ΑΜΗΝ[...?] (Seal of Salomon, [banish all evil from the man], who wears [you], Amen), Agathodaemon(?) between confronted busts of Sol and Luna above lion running to right; serpent below, ΦΥΛΑSS Γ ΜΑΙ[?] (protect ...) across fields. For analogous amulets, cf. J. Spier, "Medieval Byzantine Magical Amulets and Their Tradition." Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, vol. 56, 1993, pl. 6, c-d; for reverse type, cf. G. Schlumberger, Revue des etudes grecque, v, 1892, pp. 73-93, 'Amulettes byzantines anciennes' in Mélanges d'Archéologie Byzantine, Paris 1895, pp. 119-121, 2. 11.30g, 34mm, 12h.
Condition as seen; attractive green patina.
Between two words ΑΝΓΕΛΟC and ΑΡΛΑΦ, there is one more word which is difficult to determine. The words ends with the letters -IA above the creature in the left field. This may be the name of a sin which this creature (daimon?) represents. This word may be ΛΑΓΝΕΙΑ (lust).
In the late antique 'Testament of Solomon', the female daimon Abyzou (as Obizuth) is described as having a 'greenish gleaming face with dishevelled serpent-like hair"; the rest of her body is covered by darkness'. She was regarded primarily as a threat to child-bearing women and to infants, some of the names of those seeking protection from her on extant amulets are masculine. Arlaph, called Afarof in the Testament of Solomon, can be identified with the archangel Raphael.
Condition as seen; attractive green patina.
Between two words ΑΝΓΕΛΟC and ΑΡΛΑΦ, there is one more word which is difficult to determine. The words ends with the letters -IA above the creature in the left field. This may be the name of a sin which this creature (daimon?) represents. This word may be ΛΑΓΝΕΙΑ (lust).
In the late antique 'Testament of Solomon', the female daimon Abyzou (as Obizuth) is described as having a 'greenish gleaming face with dishevelled serpent-like hair"; the rest of her body is covered by darkness'. She was regarded primarily as a threat to child-bearing women and to infants, some of the names of those seeking protection from her on extant amulets are masculine. Arlaph, called Afarof in the Testament of Solomon, can be identified with the archangel Raphael.