Roman Gold Lamella Plaque - Translated Inscription

Roman, Imperial Period, probably from Antioch, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A beautifully preserved example of a gold lamella, a plaque bearing a magical incantation or spell. It bears the design of a nicely rendered aediculum with columns and capitals on either side and a pediment on top surrounding a seven-line inscription of a magical incantation. The scalloping above the pediment to either side may correspond to the roof tiles of the aediculum. The pediment imagery seems to be solar. Size of panel: 1.5" W x 1.7" H (3.8 cm x 4.3 cm); size of frame: 4.35" W x 4.8" H (11 cm x 12.2 cm)

At first glance, it appears to include an image of a squashed solar disk emitting flames or rays. Other possible readings include a boat with a sun disk (the Egyptian ship of the sun, with prow at right and the solar disk in the middle) or a vehicle (chariot, with a figure at left in right profile holding a stick or rein). This is suggestive of a provincial representation deriving from somewhere in Phoenicia in imperial Roman times. Although Phoenicia proper disappeared with Alexander the Great, the same people continued to inhabit the region and iconographies are often mingled.

Texts in magical, curse, spell or incantation contexts are often presented as combinations of letters and symbols rather than distinct words and do not lend themselves easily to direct translation. The letters of the first two lines, read retrograde, suggest a word connected with Antioch (Antiokito). However, retrograde inscriptions are found only on curse tablets. A complete translation is available upon request and will accompany the piece.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Neil Phillips collection, New York, USA, 1990s

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#154201
Condition Report: This item has not been examined outside its frame and its gold content is not known. Great preservation of motifs and form with tiny losses to peripheries. A complete translation is available upon request and will accompany the piece.