Magical gems, also called Gnostic gems, are dated mainly to the 1st-3rd century. The depic-tions, symbols and inscriptions on them often refer to Gnosticism, a religious-philosophical current very popular in that period. The relics discussed were amulets. The syncretic icon-ographic solutions as well as the words and inscriptions on them were of great importance. Voces magicae, the names of gods, and also words unintelligible in any language frequent-ly appear. In order to maintain secrecy they were often written in code and clandestine names were used. To reach god, it was necessary to overstep the rules of ordinary lan-guage. Similarly to the Egyptian or Gnostic tradition, in Greco-Roman magic it was be-lieved that words and names had power. On gems, just as in magical papyri or on magical tablets the so-called charakteres were also used, i.e. symbols inspired by shapes of the Greek, or less frequently the Semitic, alphabet used by magi, astrologists and Gnostics. The kinds of depictions and ideas conveyed on magical gems are connected with Gnosticism. It might be stated that followers of this trend could also be among the produc-ers of the amulets, but too little is still known about it, because evidence of Gnosticism was destroyed after it was regarded as heresy
