UNCERTAIN. Circa 1st-3rd centuries. Gnostic Amulet (Lead, 24 mm, 7.83 g, 12 h). ᗺ/Є/Θ - Θ[...] Snake coiled to left around omphalos (?). Rev. C+THPI / OϞANOЄ / IЄAICΛ in three lines. Very fine.


Like lot 2399, this object is related to ancient magic or Gnosticism. While the legends are typically nonsensical, the obverse iconography - a snake coiled around an omphalos - may refer to Apollo, who established his cult at Delphi after slaying Python guarding the omphalos. As usual, the deeper symbolic meaning of the scene would only have been apparent to an initiate of ancient magical practice.