Ancient Gem against Fever

This ancient artefact is a rare example of a gem used as amulet against fever. The majority of the fever amulets from the archaeological record were made of papyrus or parchment.

The gem is inscribed on both sides:

The chippings on both sides likely happened when the gem was removed with a metal tool from its original mound.

 

Getty-73.AN.1 -Gemme-RS
Getty-73.AN.1 -Gemme
Getty-73.AN.1 -Gemme-Abdruck
Getty-73.AN.1 -Gemme-AbdruckRS
Getty-73.AN.1 -Gemme-RS Getty-73.AN.1 -Gemme Getty-73.AN.1 -Gemme-Abdruck Getty-73.AN.1 -Gemme-AbdruckRS

 

Description

Place of storage: The J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, California
Inventory number: 73.AN.1
Material: Agate
Dating: 2nd – 3rd century
Provenance: Unknown
Dimensions: 3.9 × 3.5 × 1.1 cm (1 9/16 × 1 3/8 × 7/16 in.)

Link: https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/103QSR

 

Literature

R. Kotansky, ‚Two Amulets in the Getty Museum: A Gold Amulet for Aurelia’s Fever. An Inscribed Magical-Stone for Fever, ‘Chills,’ and Headache,‘ J. Paul Getty Museum Journal 8 (1980), 181–188.

The publication is available in JSTOR when registered, registration is free for private individuals.

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