★ A very interesting magic amulet ★

Uncertain, circa 10th century. Amulet (Lead, 48 mm, 20.00 g, 12 h). AΓIOC A[ΓIOC AΓIOC] KVPHOC BOHΘI TI ΦOPOVCH ("Holy holy holy. Lord help the wearer") Facing head, seven serpents around; all within decorated border. Rev. [V]CTЄPA MЄΛA/NH MЄΛANOMЄNI / OC OΦIC [H]ΛHC[CЄ] / OC APNOC KVM/HΘH-TH ("Womb, black, blackening. You coil like a snake. Lay down like a lamb") in five lines; above, pentagram between six-pointed star and crescent; below, magical "charakter"; all within decorated border. Cf. J. Spier: Medieval Byzantine Amulets and their Tradition, in: Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, vol. 56 (1993), p. 25-62, plate 1 a-b (for two close parallels). A highly interesting amulet. Flan crack and loop broken off, otherwise, very fine.