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Gemstones and Beads from Caesarea Maritima

BCC BD1Glass Bead
2nd Century BCE?-3rd cent.CE?
Phoenician or Roman?
Caesarea Maritima
Annular bead with three colors and an
eye? pattern that repeats 3 times around
the circumference. Each pattern has a yellow border
enclosing two blue/green dots, slightly offset,
on a matrix of dark red glass, mixed with some black.
12.0x7.0mm. 2.47gm.v-drome

BCC BD2 and BCC BD3Two-Hole Beads
Caesarea Maritima
Uncertain Date

BD2, Lavender Lapis? or
Azurite? or Sodalite?
Uncertain shape description.
The holes are drilled from two
sides, with a restriction in the
middle where they meet at a
slight angle.
9.5 x 5.0 x 3.0mm.
0.25gm.

BD3, Dark blue glass
Double truncated, faceted
pyramid? The holes appear to
be drilled straight through with
a consistent diameter.
10.5 x 4.5 x 2.75mm
0.15gm

Separate surface finds, 1972
and 1975. Any other information
or comments are welcome.
(Click for higher resolution)v-drome

BCC BD4Stone Pendant or Bead
Uncertain date
Dark gray stone of medium-high hardness with
six flat edges and a double curve at the top. Slightly
asymmetrical, but weighted so as to hang point down.
Possibly made of basalt or very hard limestone. The
hole is drilled from both sides with a very small opening
in the middle. Height: 3.95cm. Width: 4.1cm.
Thickness: 0.65cm. Weight: 21.36gm.
Surface find, Caesarea Maritima, 1975
v-drome

BCC BD5 Faceted Carnelian BeadFaceted Red/Orange Carnelian Bead
9th -11th Century CE?
Fatimid Islamic or Medieval?
Translucent red/orange carnelian bead with
24 facets in three horizontal rows forming a
slightly flattened, faceted octagonal sphere,
beautifully cut and polished. Drilled with a
rod drill(?) from both top and bottom, to meet
in the middle. Surface find from the sand
dunes near Caesarea Maritima, 1971.
Maximum diameter 8.0mm. Ht: 5.5mm. Wt: 0.51gm.
(click for larger pic)v-drome

BCC BD6 Faceted Rhomboid Carnelian BeadFaceted Red/Orange Carnelian Bead
9th-11th Century CE
Caesarea Maritima, Fatimid Period
Semi-transparent red/orange carnelian
bead, faceted with slightly convex faces,
forming a rhomboid hexahedron
(parallelepiped). Beautifully cut and
polished. Drilled from both ends with
a rod drill(?) to meet in an offset at
approximately 2/3rds of the length.
Surface find from the sand dunes near
Caesarea Maritima, 1972.
12.0 x 8.0 x 4.5mm. Wt: 0.66gm.
(click for larger pic)1 commentsv-drome

BCC BD7 Fatimid Islamic Spherical Gold BeadSpherical Gold Bead
11th Century CE Fatimid Syria or Egypt
Intricately designed and crafted spherical
gold bead with filigree and granulation,
crushed flat. Six teardrop-shaped petals
in each hemisphere are outlined in twisted
gold wire, with a circle of wire inside each
leaf. The leading edges of the petals are
marked by twelve granules that alternate
position along the upper and lower extent
of the hemispheres along the equator of
the bead. cf. New York Metropolitan Museum
of Art, Accession Number: 1980.474.4 (also .1-.8)
Maximum diameter 13.2mm. Wt: 0.775gm.
Surface find, Caesarea Maritima, 1976.
J. Berlin Caesarea Collection

(click for larger pic)1 commentsv-drome

BCC BD8 Spherical Carnelian BeadSpherical Red/Orange Carnelian Bead
Uncertain Date
Translucent pale-orange carnelian bead,
roughly spherical, with subtle off-white and
reddish-orange banding. Nicely polished
but with numerous surface imperfections.
The bead is drilled from one side only with
a rod drill(?), the hole terminating in a cup
shaped depression, fashioned, perhaps, to
allow a closer fitting of any adjacent bead
on the string. Maximum diameter 8.0mm.
Ht: 7.0mm. Wt: 0.59gm. Surface find from
the sand dunes near Caesarea Maritima, 1971.
J. Berlin Caesarea Collection
(click for Larger pic)v-drome

BCC G1Roman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
1st-2nd century CE
Zeus seated, holding staff and thunderbolts,
eagle to right. White carnelian (chalcedony?)
9x12mm. Anit Hamburger's "Gems from
Caesarea Maritima" Atiqot English Series,
Vol. VIII, 1968, lists several gems with
Zeus and Zeus/Serapis motifs.
Surface find Caesarea Maritima, 1972
J. Berlin Caesarea Collection
(click on photo for higher resolution)v-drome

BCC G1Roman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
1st-2nd century CE
Zeus seated, holding staff and
thunderbolts, eagle to right.
Chalcedony 9x12mm. Profile: C8A,
slightly convex top, flat bottom,
wide upright oval.
cf. Hendler Collection #1
cf. Hamburger #9
Surface find, 1972
(click on photo for higher resolution)2 commentsv-drome

BCC G10Roman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Intaglio
1-3rd Cent CE?
Gryllos with dual heads of Mercury? and
or Pan? and or Wolf?
Gem size:10.0x11.5mm
Banded Jasper? in an iron setting,
probably originally covered in gold leaf.v-drome

BCC G11Roman Gem Stone Intaglio
1st-4th century CE
Unidentified portrait, head left,
with elaborate hairstyle.
Semi-transparent Carnelian
11.5 x 7.5 x 2.9mm 0.37gm.
Profile type F1, upright oval,
with very slightly convex surfaces.
There are no parallels in Anit Hamburger's
"Gems from Caesarea Maritima", Atiqot, 1968.
Surface find, Caesarea M, 1978
J. Berlin Caesarea Collectionv-drome

BCC G12Roman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
1st-3rd cent.CE
Zeus-Serapis seated in profile to right
on a throne. He is crowned with the
modius and wears a tunic and mantle.
Right arm raised and leaning on a tall
scepter, left hand (usually resting on
the head of Cerberus). Very fine detail
and workmanship. Pale yellow jasper.
Chipped, with approx. 3/4 remaining.
11.5 x (14.0mm.) 0.42gm.
cf. Bonner, CBd-1142.
Surface find Caesarea Maritima, 1971
J. Berlin Caesarea Collectionv-drome

BCC G13Roman Gem Stone
Intaglio 1st-3rd cent.CE
Caesarea Maritima
Eagle with spead wings, above,
radiate head left, flanked by two stars.
Translucent Red Carnelian? or Garnet
10 x 7 mm. 0.26gm.
Anit Hamburger's "Gems from Caesarea Maritima"
Atiqot English Series, Vol. VIII, 1968, lists several
gems which include an eagle in the design.
Coins with the eagle motif were common
from Caesarea in the early 3rd century.v-drome

BCC G14Roman Gem Stone Intaglio
2nd-3rd century CE
Caesarea Maritima
Eagle between vexilla, standing right,
head left, wreath? in beak.
Yellow Jasper in iron setting.
Gem size: 12 x 9 mm. 2.94gm.
Anit Hamburger's "Gems from Caesarea Maritima",
Atiqot English Series, Vol. VIII, 1968, lists several
gems which include an eagle between vexilla in the
design. "The military symbol of an eagle between standards
represented the luck of the unit and was venerated...probably
becoming a magical symbol” (page 14).
Coins from Caesarea with this motif were also minted by
Trajan Decius and Trebonianus Gallus.1 commentsv-drome

BCC G15Roman Gem Stone
Intaglio 1st-3rd cent.CE
Caesarea Maritima
Fortuna standing right holding
cornucopia and rudder.
Glass paste? or turquoise, in iron setting.
Gem size: 6x8 mm. 0.78gm.
cf. Anit Hamburger, "Gems from Caesarea Maritima",
Atiqot English Series, Vol. VIII, 1968 #73
Surface find Caesarea Maritima, 1977
J. Berlin Caesarea Collectionv-drome

BCC G16Roman Gem Stone
Intaglio 1st-4th cent.CE
Caesarea Maritima
Victory advancing left,
holding wreath and palm branch.
Transparent Red Carnelian
Gem size: 7x9 mm. 0.18gm.
cf. Anit Hamburger, "Gems from Caesarea Maritima",
Atiqot English Series, Vol. VIII, 1968, #58 and #61.
(click on photo for higher resolution)1 commentsv-drome

BCC G17Roman Gem Stone
Intaglio 1st-4th cent.CE
Caesarea Maritima
Herdsman kneeling to left milking
goat. Palm branch, above, and
bush? before goat. Convex on
front and back faces, with beveled edge.
Chipped, somewhat eroded on the face,
back highly polished.
Translucent Red /White Carnelian
Gem size: 14x11.5 mm. 0.91gm.
cf. Anit Hamburger, "Gems from Caesarea Maritima",
Atiqot English Series, Vol. VIII, 1968, #148-#150.2 commentsv-drome

BCC G18Roman Gem Stone
Intaglio 1st-3rd cent.CE
Caesarea Maritima
Female figure, possibly Demeter / Hygeia,
standing left, holding sacrificial bowl and
sceptre? or snake.
Translucent Red Carnelian
10.5x7.8x2.5mm. 0.29gm.
cf. Amorai-Stark, Hershkovitz, “Gemstones,
Finger Rings, and Seal Boxes from Caesarea
Maritima, The Hendler Collection”, #52 and
#54. c. Shay Hendler, Tel Aviv 2016.

Also possible, but perhaps less likely: Venus
standing. cf. Anit Hamburger, "Gems from
Caesarea Maritima", Atiqot English Series,
Vol. VIII, 1968, #45.v-drome

BCC G19, G20, and G213 Gem Stones
1st-3rd cent.CE?
Caesarea Maritima
Black and blue Sardonyx (-onyx)
These were not found together,
but, in my opinion, are almost
certainly from the same workshop,
and may be from the same piece
of rock, as well.
Surface finds, 1971-1973

cf. Hendler Collection, #211-215 v-drome

BCC G19-21 3 Gem Stones
1st-3rd cent.CE?
Caesarea Maritima
Black and blue Sardonyx (-onyx)
beautifully cut and polished.
Surface finds, 1971-73

G19 - F2 profile, Hexagonal cut, very rare.
11.25 x 7.0 x 2.0mm weight: 0.24gm

G20 - F2 profile, oval cut, chipped.
8.0 x 5.25 x 1.9mm weight: 0.12gm

G21 - F2 profile, rectangular cut, chipped.
9.0 x 7.5 x 2.0mm weight: 0.27gm

cf. Amorai-Stark, Hershkovitz, “Gemstones,
Finger Rings, and Seal Boxes from Caesarea
Maritima, The Hendler Collection”, #211 and
#215 c. Shay Hendler, Tel Aviv 2016.

(click for larger pic)v-drome

BCC G22Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Hellenistic, Roman, or Byzantine
Amethyst cabochon ring stone.
Pale purple-lilac, profile C1A (or B), oval,
double convex. Beautifully cut
and polished. 8.5 x 6.5 x 4.4mm.
Weight: 0.32gm.

cf. Amorai-Stark, Hershkovitz, “Gemstones,
Finger Rings, and Seal Boxes from Caesarea
Maritima, The Hendler Collection”, #244
c. Shay Hendler, Tel Aviv 2016.v-drome

BCC G23Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Hellenistic, Roman, or Byzantine.
Small thin Garnet cabachon with sharp
beveled sides. Deep red/purple, transparent.
Variation of profile F1, or C8A, oval, with flat
underside, and very slightly convex top.
Beautifully cut and polished.
7.25 x 5.20 x 1.5mm.
Wt: 0.11gm. (0.65ct)
cf. Hendler Collection, #260-263
Surface find Caesarea Maritima, 1970's
J. Berlin Caesarea Collectionv-drome

BCC G24 and G25Green Glass Gem Stones
Caesarea Maritima
Uncertain Date
Very small semi-transparent
green glass ringstones,
probably imitating emerald.

G24: profile C2A, rectangular
with slightly curved top and
corners, four-faceted sides
ending in a rounded ridge, worn.
5.0 x 4.3 x 2.5mm 0.12gm.

G25: profile F2 or F1, oval,
with flat top and bottom, sharp
beveled sides.
5.8 x 5.0 x 1.0mm 0.10gm.

cf. Hendler Collection, #322-326v-drome

BCC G24, G25 scaleGreen Glass Gem Stones
Caesarea Maritima
Uncertain Datev-drome

BCC G26Roman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Intaglio 1st-2nd cent.CE
Capricorn to left.
Carnelian, with iron oxide deposits.
Profile type:F1. Flat on top and bottom.
Gem size: 8.25x5.5x3mm. 0.2gm.
cf. Anit Hamburger, "Gems from
Caesarea Maritima", Atiqot English
Series, Vol. VIII, 1968, #132.
cf. Amorai-Stark, Hershkovitz, “Gemstones,
Finger Rings, and Seal Boxes from
Caesarea Maritima, The Hendler Collection”,
#155 and 156, Tel Aviv 2016.1 commentsv-drome

BCC G27Roman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Intaglio 1st-3rd cent.CE
Boar's head left
Carnelian
Profile type:F1 flat top and bottom
Extremely rare type
Dia:10.5 Thickness:1.75mm. wt:0.4gm.

(click for larger pic)v-drome

BCC G28Roman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Intaglio 1st-3rd cent.CE
Eros standing to left, leg crossed,
resting on inverted torch over altar.
Carnelian/Sard with iron oxide
remnants of setting. Profile type: CA8,
convex top and flat bottom, upright oval.
10.5 x 8.5 x 3.0mm. wt:0.5gm.
cf. Hamburger #101, and Getty #449.
This particular type is well-known
from provincial coins of the Severan
period, though it is not found on
coins from the Caesarea mint. The
gem collections of Anit Hamburger
and the Hendler family both illustrate
a number of Caesarea gems related
to various depictions of Eros.
Surface find 1973.
J. Berlin Caesarea Collection
(click for higher resolution)3 commentsv-drome

BCC G29Roman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Intaglio 1st-3rd cent.CE
Draped bust of Apollo? left.
Red-Brown jasper in a
modern setting.
Profile type: F1, Flat top,
flat bottom, upright oval.
11.5 x 9.0 x 2.0mm. (including mounting)
cf. Hamburger #16, but without laurel branch.
cf. Hendler Collection #12 and #13.
Surface find, 1976, Setting created, 1983.
Comments or corrections are welcome.
(click for larger pic)1 commentsv-drome

BCC G2xRoman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
2nd - 4th Century CE?
Dioscuri standing facing,
crescent moon and stars above.
Translucent Carnelian
12x8mm.
(two views with different lighting)1 commentsv-drome

BCC G3Roman Gem Stone
Serapis
5x7mm.1 commentsv-drome

BCC G3 compositeRoman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Intaglio 1st-3rd Century CE
Bust of Serapis to left.
Nicolo Onyx blue, black, white.
Profile F4 var. slightly concave
bottom, flat top, upright oval.
6.5 x 5 x 2mm.
Extremely small gem,
engraved with great detail.
cf. Hendler Collection #7
J.Berlin Caesarea Collection
(click for larger pic)3 commentsv-drome

BCC G30 Ottoman Seal StoneIslamic Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Ottoman Empire ca. 1797 CE
Uncertain ornate Arabic inscription
inscribed in the negative in three lines.
First line may read مطر اول, (matar awl,
"first rain"?). Middle line may read شاكر
عبده, (Shaker Abduh), a personal name.
Third line may read توفيق (Tawfiq) a
personal name which may also be translated
as "success", and حق يا رب, (haqa ya rabi,
meaning "Right Lord"?) or some type of
prayer. Possible date in lower line: ١٢١٢
(1212 AH=1797 CE). Flat rectangular
slab of very dark green jasper or jadite?
1.8 x 1.7 x 0.28cm. Weight: 2.03gm
Surface find, Caesarea Maritima, 1978
J. Berlin Caesarea Collection
(click for larger pic, corrections or additional
information appreciated)v-drome

BCC G31 Turquoise Gemstone or InlayPlain Gemstone or Jewelry Inset
Caesarea Maritima
Uncertain date
Turquoise ring stone or inlay, profile F5.
Roughly rectangular with a flat upper
surface, slightly beveled around the peri-
meter leading into mostly straight edges,
with one side undercut. 5.5 x 4.5 x 2.5mm.
Wt: 0.15gm. (.75ct.). Plain turquoise was
used very commonly in Early and Medieval
Islamic jewelry, considerably less so in Roman
and Byzantine times. However, a number of
engraved examples, with Roman motifs, are
known to have been found at Caesarea.
See: Amorai-Stark, Hershkovitz, “Gemstones,
Finger Rings, and Seal Boxes from Caesarea
Maritima, The Hendler Collection”, pp.292ff.
Surface find Caesarea Maritima, 1970's
J. Berlin Caesarea Collectionv-drome

BCC G32 Eros Riding Dolphin Gilded InlayGemstone or Jewelry Inlay
Caesarea Maritima
1st-3rd Century CE?
Gold-covered silver or lead appliqué of
Eros riding on a Dolphin, head missing,
remnants of wings. Eros with various
attributes was a common theme on gem-
stones and rings found at Caesarea.
Length 7.5mm. Wt: 0.11gm.
cf. Anit Hamburger, "Gems from Caesarea
Maritima", Atiqot English Series, Vol. VIII,
1968, #99, and #100.
Surface find Caesarea Maritima, 1971
J. Berlin Caesarea Collection1 commentsv-drome

BCC G4Roman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Eagle devouring Hare
Semi-Translucent Agate
12x8mm3 commentsv-drome

BCC G4 CompositeRoman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
1st-2nd Century CE
Eagle devouring Hare.
This a is very ancient type,
appearing on Greek coins
from the 4th century BCE,
and continuing as a frequent
device on Roman gems into
the 2nd Century CE.
Semi-Translucent Agate
Profile F1 var. (slightly
rounded edges), flat top
and bottom, horizontal oval.
11.5 x 8.25 x1.75mm. 0.35gm.
cf. Hendler Collection #138
(click for larger pic)4 commentsv-drome

BCC G5 Roman War GalleyRoman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Intaglio 1st-2nd century CE
Intricately detailed War Galley
to left, including three helmeted
soldiers w/ shields, two vexilla,
commander (Mars?) standing at
prow, and rows of oars.
Transparent red/orange Carnelian
or Garnet? Profile:F2/F3v.
Truncated cone, horizontal oval,
flat bottom and slightly convex top.
10.25 x 8.5 x 2.75mm 0.45gm.
Extremely rare type, previously
unpublished from Caesarea.
Surface find, 1972
(Click for larger pic)
v-drome

BCC G6Roman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Facing busts of radiate SOL and
LUNA, with crescent. Concordia
to each side, lion below, bucranium (skull of an ox) between paws.
Green Jasper with red inclusions. 10x9 mm. The style
of the portraits may suggest a connection to coins
of 2nd-3rd century CE. There is no parallel
in Anit Hamburger's "Gems from Caesarea Maritima"
Atiqot English Series, Vol. VIII, 1968v-drome

BCC G7xRoman Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Translucent Red Carnelian
Grape Vine, Grapes, and Tendrils
"Coins with... vine leaf on the...reverse were
struck in Palestine three times - during the first
and second wars against Rome, and by the
Procurators in 17/18 CE. The latter coins
were probably struck at Caesarea, where this
issue was certainly current"
Anit Hamburger, Gems From Caesarea Maritima, Atiqot,
English Series, Vol. VIII, 1968 p. 21.
Surface find Caesarea Maritima, 1977
(click on Pic for higher resolution)1 commentsv-drome

BCC G8Islamic Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
7th - 11th Century CE
Koranic Inscription, Kufic Calligraphy,
inscribed in the negative.
"li-kull ajal kitab" "لكل أجل كتاب"
everyones' end is determined
(fated) previously (by Allah)
14 x 10 mm.
Red Carnelianv-drome

BCC G9Islamic Gem Stone
Caesarea Maritima
Late Abbasid Kufic inscription:
Allah Waliyyu (Zakari?) bin Habib.
Inscribed in the negative.
10 x 8 mm.
Black onyxv-drome

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