UNCERTAIN EAST. Levantine region or Egypt, circa 6th-7th century. Amulet (Bronze, 36 mm, 7.34 g, 12 h). +CΦΡΑΓΙC COΛOMONOC BOHΘI T૪ ΦΟΡΟNTH ('Seal of Solomon, help the wearer') In upper register, mount Golgotha (?) surmounted by cross; to left, radiate bust of the Sun to right; to right, bust of the Moon to left, wearing crescent; in lower register, lion standing right, on top of serpent. Rev. +ΦЄVΓЄ MЄMICMЄNH ΔIⲰKI CЄ AΓΓEΛOC APAAΦ ('Flee, detested one! He pursues you, angel Araaph!') Holy Rider galloping left, holding spear in the form of a cross, spearing a prostrate female demon; to right, angel standing left; to left, monogram. Cf. T. Matantseva, Les amulettes byzantines contre le Mauvais Oeil du Cabinet des Médailles, in: Jahrbuch für Antike und Christentum 37 (1994), p. 110-121, notably plate 14, c. (for basic iconography). Some weakness, otherwise, fine.


Other amulets of this type name Solomon as the pursuer of the detested angel Araaph, in allusion to the late antique tradition of king Solomon as master of demons (see also the longer note on lot 2781 above).