Roman Carnelian Gemstone with Serapis and Eagle Between Two Military Standards

2ND CENTURY A.D.

5/8 in. (0.87 grams, 17 mm).

The oval intaglio with bust of Serapis right, above an eagle with wings spread, two military signa to the sides.

Provenance

Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s.
Important North West London collection.

Literature

Cf. Walters, H.B., Catalogue of Engraved Gems & Cameos, Greek, Etruscan & Roman in the British Museum, London, 1926, no.1273; Sena Chiesa, G., Gemme del Museo Nazionale di Aquileia (Associazione Nazionale per Aquileia), Padova, 1966, nos.39-40; Hornbostel, W., Sarapis, Leiden, 1973, p.222; Zwierlein-Diehl, E., Die antiken Gemmen des Kunsthistorischen Museums in Wien, vol. 2, Munich, 1979, no.1247; Philipp, H., Mira et Magica: Gemmen im Äegyptischen Museum der Staatlichen Museen PreuBischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin-Charlottenburg, Mainz, 1986, nos.57-58.

Footnotes

Often the intaglio gemstones were carved with an eagle between two standards. The left standard is topped with a capricorn genius legionis, and the right one with the hand of a signum manipularis. The presence of a capricorn could imply that the gemstone was dedicated to men of the Legio XIIII Martia Victrix.

CONDITION

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LOT 0139