gems, glyptic, engraved gems, agate, cameo, intaglio

Philipp provides a detailed catalogue and study of more than 200 magical engraved gems and amulets in the Egyptian Museum, Berlin, many belonging to the class commonly termed Graeco-Egyptian, Gnostic, or magical gems. The catalogue examines their materials, iconography, inscriptions, magical signs and religious associations, with representations including such figures as Chnoubis, Isis, Osiris, Harpocrates and other syncretistic deities. Greek inscriptions, voces magicae and characteres receive particular attention. The objects are considered within the religious and magical environment of the Roman Imperial period, where Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Jewish and other traditions interacted. Detailed catalogue entries and extensive illustrations make the volume an important corpus for the study of ancient magical gems. The Campbell Bonner Magical Gems Database currently links 207 objects to Philipp’s catalogue.