A Magical Ring from the Environs of Legio and Kefar-'Othnay, Israel

An intact magical silver ring set with a green chalcedony magical gem was discovered near present-day Megiddo prison. The ring has a tubular hoop and a low box-bezel. It's metal is engraved on all sides with symbols and charaktères and perhaps some letters. On the ring's round, flat base a...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Amorai-Stark, Shua 19XX- (Author) ; Asscher, Yotam (Author) ; Hershkovitz, Malka (Author) ; Ṭeper, Yotam (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Studium Biblicum Franciscanum [2020]
In: Liber annuus
Year: 2020, Volume: 70, Pages: 385-403
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Silver jewelry / Gem / Divinity / Prison / Megiddo
IxTheo Classification:HH Archaeology
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Description
Summary:An intact magical silver ring set with a green chalcedony magical gem was discovered near present-day Megiddo prison. The ring has a tubular hoop and a low box-bezel. It's metal is engraved on all sides with symbols and charaktères and perhaps some letters. On the ring's round, flat base appears a swastika within a square. A standing male-deity holding an upright snake is engraved on the gem, surrounded by further charactères and a magical name. The ring is of a known type. It dates from the later 3rd to the early 4th century. The precise name and identity of its standing deity are unknown. Our study has shown that a number of powerful syncretized deities are embedded it this figure; that the snake held by its god is the Chnoubis snake; and that the ring plus its gem were created to function as a powerful, protective, beneficial, theraputic item. Every aspect of this ring was calculated to enforce and strengthen the ring’s medical-magical function and aim. Together with an earlier one found of a silver magical ring in the site of Kefar-ʻOthnay with a depiction of the Anguipede on its gem, these two rings show that among the population and soldiers of the VI Ferrata legionary base and the nearby village of Kefar-'Othnay were believers in the authority of magi and the power of healing and overall help and protection against evil powers and maladies embedded in magical gems and rings.
ISSN:0081-8933
Contains:Enthalten in: Studium Biblicum Franciscanum (Jerusalem), Liber annuus
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1484/J.LA.5.125232