Two snakes face each other, with a patera between them. The patera, which is in much higher relief (0.04) than the snakes (0.004), is flat on the surface, then beveled out to the sides. There is a small hole in the center, depressed ca. 0.002 and 0.002-0.004 in diam. The l. snake is preserved for one and a half bends, while only the head of the r. one remains. They are bearded and horned, and a long narrow tongue projects from the mouth. The horns, beards and tongues are flush with the background, their edges chiseled into the surface; whereas the mouth and eye of the snakes are chiseled into the raised heads. Along the body of the l. snake is visible a row of slanted short lines on his belly.

The flat surface of the patera and the background of the relief are covered with claw chisel marks; also the edge of the patera has been carefully chiseled. Along both sides of the body of the l. snake, a border of 0.01-0.02 has been worked with a flat chisel (Cat. 169 Fig. 317 has a similar border). There is no evidence of drill work anywhere.

The bearded snake is an old theme which is repeated commonly, particularly as the snake is related to religion and death. The presence of the patera implies that there is a ritual significance to our piece and indeed it might be an altar. The extensive and fine chisel work, and the absence of drill work, suggest a date early in the Hellenistic period.