ARCHAIC PERIOD, CIRCA EARLY 5TH CENTURY B.C.

This small scaraboid is expertly engraved with a kneeling Amazon drawing her bow. She wears a short chiton and a crested Corinthian helmet high on her head. The top end of her quiver extends behind. Boardman and Wagner (op. cit., p. 21) consider this an exceptional piece, very close to the work of the Semon Master, perhaps even by his hand. Eleven other gems are attributed to this artist, who takes his name from an agate scarab in Berlin inscribed Semonos, "of Semon." Another carnelian scarab attributed to the artist, published in 2007, likewise depicting an Amazon, is inscribed Teisistratos, which may be the artist's name (see no. EG-11 in M. Bernheimer, Ancient Gems from the Borowski Collection for the Teisistratos gem; see also Boardman, Archaic Greek Gems, nos. 249-258 for the others).