Leu Numismatik AG
Web Auction 24 3-6 Dec 2022
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UNCERTAIN. Circa 1st-3rd centuries. Gnostic Amulet (Bronze, 40 mm, 12.27 g, 12 h). AOΘA [...] ΡΑ [...] A / IVINN∀I Roosting standing left on snake raising its head, surrounded by seven stars. Rev. [...] NONIVS / L F S CLEMENS / P SISPEPIT in three lines. A highly interesting and unusual object. Pierced twice and with some scratches on the obverse, otherwise, very fine.
From a European collection, acquired before 2021.
The iconography and the nonsensical legends of this piece make it likely this object had some sort of magical purpose or played a role in Gnosticism. Another Gnostic amulet (Leu Web Auction 23 (2022), 3675) showed a raven and a snake on the reverse, while the present piece shows what appears to be a rooster standing on a snake. In Greek mythology, the rooster was associated with Ares, and as a symbol of the god of war, it may have some sort of apotropaic function here, perhaps warding off evil in the form of the snake. As for the stars, these may refer to the seven classical planets (the Moon, the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) or perhaps even to the Pleiades, thus linking the piece to ancient astrological practice as well. The reverse tantalizingly mentions two Latin names - Nonius and Clemens - but the legend is otherwise unintelligible and certainly only would have held meaning to those initiated in the secrets of ancient magical practice.
From a European collection, acquired before 2021.
The iconography and the nonsensical legends of this piece make it likely this object had some sort of magical purpose or played a role in Gnosticism. Another Gnostic amulet (Leu Web Auction 23 (2022), 3675) showed a raven and a snake on the reverse, while the present piece shows what appears to be a rooster standing on a snake. In Greek mythology, the rooster was associated with Ares, and as a symbol of the god of war, it may have some sort of apotropaic function here, perhaps warding off evil in the form of the snake. As for the stars, these may refer to the seven classical planets (the Moon, the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) or perhaps even to the Pleiades, thus linking the piece to ancient astrological practice as well. The reverse tantalizingly mentions two Latin names - Nonius and Clemens - but the legend is otherwise unintelligible and certainly only would have held meaning to those initiated in the secrets of ancient magical practice.