Anonymous, circa 10th century. Amulet (Lead, 38 mm, 18.24 g, 12 h), womb or "hystera" amulet. Δ...O VCTЄP[A] MЄΛA/NI TIΠH... [M]ЄΛANOOV ("Womb, black, blackening") Facing head, eight serpent heads around. Rev. OC ΛЄOИ ΘVMN OC ΘCKCIK (?) OC APИOCЄ KVMH ("Like a lion you are boisterous, like a ..., like a lamb lay down"); in fields, ЄI / Φ / Z Holy Rider on horseback to left, spearing demon. Cf. J. Spier: Medieval Byzantine Amulets and their Tradition, in: Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes 56 (1993), 21 (for imagery) and 39 (for legend). A large and exceptionally well preserved Byzantine womb amulet. Flan bent and straigthened, otherwise, good very fine.


This amulet bears a magical spell on both sides intended to keep the womb calm and in its proper place