Gem

Pendant

Sommerville: Maculated Sardonyx. The Goddess Canobus the divine source in nature of humidity. Grand Cameo. The Egyptians represented her with a human head surmounting a vase of water. She was considered the enemy of fire and was adored by the thirsty and weary. Tradition states the the priests of Canobus, to prove her potency, announced that she could destroy fire and made a large image of Terracotta filled with water; in the bade of the image vase were secreted holes which were cunningly stopped with wax, so that until the miracle was exhibited no water was visible. A fire of quick burning wood was then kindledand the deity Canobus was held close to the fire the wax melted and the water extinguished the fire and victorious Canobus was adored as the greater power having conquered the fire. In the Bibliotheque Nationale at Paris there is a large vase of this deity in a beautiful state of preservation; also several in the British Museum. Greek and Roman Cameos, Case L.