1842.] On the Gem and Coins described in Nos. 7 and 8. 141 



Basilidean doctrines, or a modification of them ; and one is perhaps the 

 less surprised to find Telephus, the beneficent, acknowledging in the 

 generative and preservative influence of the sun, a principle of good, 

 which his name would lead us to conclude, he in particular professed 

 the practice of.* That a general tendency to acknowledge the Mi- 



* I do not like to leave this subject without a few words regarding the Inscriptions 

 on the Basilidean gems in the Ebermayer collection. Mr. Tregear's Basilidean seal 

 is destitute of letters, but others may be discovered bearing characters, and to facilitate 

 investigation, I will, as Bayer's Thesaurus is excessively rare, copy in this place the 

 different words found on the gems figured in his book. I should premise, that all the 

 words are written " Uteris inversis," or from right to left, which will prove a key to 

 future discovery, should we be fortunate enough to recover further specimen of these 

 interesting relics. 



Embermayer Gems, No. 437. Abraxas; on the reverse, ; AH0D9AX 



: AHIA^ODO^n : AHANANA : AHA9A<I : AHT<IYO 

 : AHA^aAl : AHAXIM. 



These names are placed in the gem one above the other, beginning from the right, 

 being the names of the seven angels, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, Ananiel, 

 Prosariel, and Chabsael, of whom, or of their synomins in the etherial world, "the 

 masters of the seven stars." Bayer gives in the following abstract the Basilidean creed: — 



" In nominibus quidem angelorum, quos Trithepines intelligentio vocat in trac- 

 tatu de Septem Secundeis, non conveniunt annotante discrimen laudatissimo Jul. 

 Reichelt, N. 39. p. 48-49: quod mirum nemini videbitur ; siquidem nee Saturnilo 

 cum Basilide condiscipulo conveniebat, qui apud Epiphanium haeresi 23, angelos, 

 agebat, a superiori virtute descibisses ex quibus septem mundum, et quae in mundo, 

 sunt comprehensa, condiderunt, ej usque mundi suam quemque angelum partem divi- 

 sione sortitum, Cassiel orbem Saturni ; Sachreel, Jovis ; Samuel, Martis ; Michael, 

 Solis; Ananeel, Veneris; Raphael, Mercurii; Lunce, itidem, Michael." (p. 219.) 



Ebr. Gems, No. 438. Abraxas, the scourge, and shield in the right hand, his left 

 on the head of a man, kneeling, and naked ; below him the sacred name written 



(DAI; behind the kneeling figure E AZX3A2 AI, of which Bayer makes 



CABAQO ©EE02r on the reverse a lion, (Mithraic emblem of the sun,) a 

 crescent, and seven stars. 



Eber. Gem. No. 439. Abraxas : on his shield A I : on the reverse. 



(J) 



IA9N : OXOTN : 0<IOA<IA(D : U)IA<IA : AAAT. 



These words are placed one above the other beginning from the right, the dots be- 

 tween them merely mark the termination of a line. Bayer calls them ^Egyptian, and 

 translates, " summo marti omnia vincenti" 



Eber. Gems, No. 440. Abraxas : about him the letters ]VO 3 $0 on the reverse 

 AD AZ, a n abridged form perhaps of Abraxas. 



Eber. Gems, No. 441. Abraxas: above him, (but inversed,) the words IOYIOY 

 QIOYNY YOOYQ QNIOY, which Bayer translates - Domini fortitudo 

 oeterna, " below him I AQ AH Al (inversed) translated " Angelus Domini." 



V 



