Die Magischen Gemmen Im Britischen Museum

This impressive, scholarly two-volume work publishes the entire

collection of 649 magical gems in the British Museum, the largest

collection in the world. Arranged chronologically, the catalogue

begins with Egyptian gems which present religious images and/or

inscriptions dedicated to the sun or moon. Much of the volume

catalogues Jewish and Christian gems that depict motifs of the

zodiac, medicinal magic and religious subjects and deities,

themes which continued on magical gems into the modern period.

Each entry includes an illustration and a detailed description of

the composition, material, associated information from papyri and

magical texts and a discussion of the magical properties and

powers evoked by the gem. The index and plates are presented in

the second volume. German text.