Saw this on the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-20548502 Interesting item, and the significance of the Phallus/Scorpion/Crab/Snake combination has the experts baffled. I am sure there are some here who will have a view? Paddy
The creature represented is most likely Abraxas, a gnostic deity. The intriguing part is the addition of the phallus. Abraxas was never portrayed on coins, but appears on small objects of personal adornment fairly frequently (amulets, gemstones, etc.). ROME PB Gnostic amulet 3rd-5th century AD Abraxas standing left, with head of a cock, body of a man, and legs of a serpent, holding spear and shield Star over crescent; ABPA/ CAZ below Cf. Rostowzew & Prou 820a (oval shape, letters IAω around deity) Remnants of loupe for suspension at 12'
further reading I just did a Google search on “scorpion phallus snake crab” and came up with this book written in 1895 and republished by Dover in 2003, “The Evil Eye: The Classic Account of an Ancient Superstition” By Frederick Thomas Elworthy, which is on Google books (and available on Amazon). That clearly shows Roman coins (or discs) with similar symbols, in various combinations, all of which were meant to protect against the "evil eye" (and an eye is also clearly visible on the earring disc discovery). I assume the earring disc fulfilled the same function. The book gives more detail.
Interesting! If I knew how to contact the experts, I would pass it on to them... Thanks for your insight. Paddy
