ClassificationsGreek and Roman Art
Double-Sided Intaglio Gem Depicting Hercules and the Nemean Lion and A Portrait Head of Socrates
Possible OriginAmasya, Turkey, Asia
CultureRoman
PeriodRepublican-Imperial
Date1st Century CE
Credit LineGift of the Estate of Michael J. Shubin
Dimensions11/16 x 1/2 x 3/16 in. (1.7 x 1.3 x 0.5 cm)
Object number2008.031.034
Label TextSide A: A nude, beardless Hercules stands left on a short groundline, wrestling the lion, which confronts him upright and digs its claws into his thighs. Side B: Portrait head of Socrates to right. Hercules's combat the with Nemean Lion is the most popular of the hero's labors on Roman gemstones, typically on red stones such as jasper or cornelian. The combination was thought to protect the wearer from colic, and many examples are also inscribed with magical incantations that indicate their use as amulets.
Exhibition HistoryMonsters, Demons & Winged Beasts: Composite Creatures in the Ancient World, Michael C. Carlos Museum, February 5 - June 19, 2011
Making an Impression: The Art and Craft of Ancient Engraved Gemstones, Michael C. Carlos Museum, August 27 - November 27, 2022
ProvenanceEx coll. Michael Shubin (1950-2008), Montebello, California, purchased from Superior Stamp and Coin, Los Angeles, California, 1974.
Status
Not on viewCollections
- Greek and Roman Art
late 2nd Century CE
3rd Century CE
1st Century CE
1st Century CE
mid 2nd Century CE
19th Century
1st Century BCE
19th Century
19th Century
