Anonymous, 10th century. Amulet (Bronze, 35 mm, 12.34 g). ✱VΓTЄPHKMNIV ΦVΛAKTHPIONHC THN VCTЄPAN AMHN Womb symbol: facing head in center, from which twelve serpents originate towards the border. Rev. Elaborate decoration comprised of circlets. Apparently unpublished, but cf. J. Spier: Medieval Byzantine Amulets and their Tradition, in: Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes 56 (1993), p. 25-62 (for general type). A very interesting and attractively designed womb amulet. Good very fine.



This amulet belongs to a well-known group of Byzantine amulets intended to help women with all kinds of ailments associated with the womb. Interestingly, the obverse legend on this piece explicitly specifies its function: 'phylactery for the womb, amen'.