Getty Museum

Engraved Gem

Date

2nd–4th century A.D.

Medium

Hematite

Culture

Roman

Department

Jewelry

Institution

Getty Museum

Fragmentary gem, refashioned into a much smaller format after breakage. The upper right corner of the obverse is engraved with the image of a "vanishing" inscription in triangular shape, one corner pointing downwards. The inscription consists of a command written in its entirety on the first line, then repeated again on the line beneath, but leaving off the first letter, untill there are no letters left on the bottom line. The command, written in Greek, recites: DIPSAS TANTALE HAIMA PIE, translated as "Tantalus-viper, drink blood!" Or, according to a different interpretation it may be translated as, "Are you thirsty, Tantalus? Drink blood!". On the lower left corner, alongside the shrinking edge of the command, a lion-headed demon is carved. The demon figure is fleeing to the left with its hands at its waist, and its head turned to the right. The figure's head is touched by the point of an inverted isosceles triangle, which might indicate an attack or a threat to the figure itself. The reverse of the gem was left plain.

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