Anonymous, circa 4th century. Gnostic Amulet (Orichalcum, 27 mm, 5.93 g, 12 h). ΘⲰ/ZA/ΞA/ZⲰΘ On the left, female (?) figure standing right in short chiton and boots, head turned left, holding palm branch in right hand and raising left hand towards head; on the right, falcon-headed Horus standing left, wearing double crown; between them, four-legged animal to left and reclining lion to left . Rev. ANAPAXA / ΘANAPAXΘK / AXAAZCAKAI / ΛЄAZЄNΔYNIO / CYNCYXΠICOC / ЄTЄΛΠAPΦA / AΓΠC in seven lines, bird standing left after the last line. Unpublished in the standard references. An extremely rare and intriguing magical object. Holed, otherwise, extremely fine.


The obverse inscription of this fascinating 'Gnostic' amulet has the palindrome thozaxazoth (θωζαξαζωθ), which also appears on hardstone magical gems. The meaning of the palindrome is unknown. Notably, two yellow jasper gems pair this palindrome with a standing Horus, as does our amulet (cf. Michel, Britischen Museum, no. 138 and Michel, Bunte Steine - Dunkle Bilder, no. 25.) The reverse has a long magical legend of uncertain meaning.