Notae Numismaticae - Zapiski Numizmatyczne (3/4.1999)

Side B: magical characters repeated three times:13 <(<(<( ^/

Edge: on the narrow oblique surface, BAPCKDITA ("Cmsher of ser-
pents")14and nr A NTOPHKKTA ("Breaker of giants").15

Text as a whole: "I am Chnoumis, the eternal sun, crusher of ser-
pents, breaker of giants."

2. Inv. No. MNK IV-Zł-1790

Dark plasma. Oval shape, both faces convex, edge straight. Dimen-
sions: 17.6 x 14.1 x 5.7 mm. State of preservation: good. Workmanship
typical, rather careful.

Side A: engraved representation of a lion-headed demon with ser-
pentine body, facing left; aureole with seven rays. Inscription, intersect-
ed by the body of the snake: XNOY MIC.

Side B: in the center of the decoration field, the so-called "Chnoubis
sign":

///

Around the margin, the following text: BAPPWOITA ("Crusher of
serpents")16 and TirATWIlAHTA ("Breaker of giants"),17 i.e. papo^rca
yiya[v]T07rX,r| [k]toc.

13 Regarding these characters, see Bonner, pp. 25, 53, and 59; Barb (review of Delatte-
Derchain), p. 302.

14 Bonner, pp. 57 and 168f. The interpretation "Crusher of serpents" is very dubious;
according to Morton Smith (in a private letter from New York, dated May 23, 1988), a more
likely reading is "Son of (the) Serpent," supposing the Aramaic bar.

15 Bonner, p. 168; Barb (review article), p. 302, and „Abraxas-Studien", p. 75.

16 Cf. note 14 above.

17 Delatte and Derchain, nos. 72-74, 81.

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