The Greco-Egyptian Fabric of Myth in Roman Period Magical Glyptic

The so-called „magical“ gems of the Roman period are condensed and elliptical images that reflect the transnational character of Roman imperial magic, shaped by Greek, Egyptian, and Jewish traditions. They blend Greek and Egyptian elements, creating a visual bilingual discourse. New divine entities emerge, such as the lion-headed snake Chnoubis, well-known mythical figures are involved in new narratives, and endowed with new competences, as illustrated by the case study of Omphale and Heracles.