Intaglio ringstone with image of Athena or Minerva

Description

This ‘intaglio’ ringstone shows the Greek goddess Athena or Roman goddess Minerva. She is wearing a plumed helmet and a Greek style of tunic, and is holding a spear and shield. It is an unusual design as it has a palm and wreath in the field of the gem, as these are usually carried by a smaller figure of Victory often depicted standing on Athena’s hand. Ringstones were set into a finger ring and could be used as a personal seal on documents. It belonged to Lieutenant Colonel Montague who collected over 800 classical archaeological objects, which he bequeathed to the museum on his death.

Accession Loan No.

5/1946/712

Collection Class

Foreign archaeology

Common Name

intaglio ringstone with image of Athena or Minerva

Simple Name

ringstone

Full Name

intaglio ringstone depicting Athena/ Minerva

Dimensions

length 10 mm; W 9 mm

Cultural Group

Roman

Period Classification

Roman Imperial - 31 BC-476 AD

Production Year Low

100

Production Year High

300

Family Group



Material

chalcedony

Collector / Excavator

Montague, LAD, Lieutenant Colonel

Collection Continent

Europe