Toth on magical gems

The paper discusses the variety of magical gems displaying the image of Thoth. The god was portrayed in various forms, which together with attributes established his function. The depictions on gems are proof of the reimagining of the deity as a result of growing religious syncretism. The described amulets date back to different traditions, mainly Egyptian, Greek, Jewish and Gnostic. Strong links with magic are visible, revealed in the iconography, and above all in the inscriptions, most of which can be found in magical papyri. Some gems containing the image of Thoth refer to grand ideas, the creation of the world and rebirth, another ones emphasise the strong relationship of the god with the sun and astrology. Some amulets performed an apotropaic or a medical function. The gems of Thoth are extremely diverse, both in terms of their representations and inscriptions as well as the materials from which they were made. As the authors claim the choice of material from which the gems were forged, was not accidental but linked with the magical and curative properties attributed to them. Jasper (yellow, green, brown, black, red) was the most popular or in the case of gems that were clearly apotropaic or medical - hematite (as well as other stones of a reddish hue - e.g. carnelian, limonite, heliotrope) were chosen