Abstract

In the gem collection of Constantine Schmidt-Ciążyński (1818–1889), since 1886 part of the Kraków National Museum, there are important materials for studies on the so-called mask-animal gems, known previously as grylloi. The whole group contains 45 objects, of which only five examples, dated to the First–Second centuries AD were chosen. They represent two iconographic variants: 1^o gems decorated with depictions of composite creatures consisting of human faces in profile and animal heads, and 2^o those with combinations of human masks and animal heads, placed on rooster legs. Some thoughts on longevity of these motifs in popular European tradition sum up the article.