Roman ring with a bloodstone intaglio of Helios. Greco Roman, 2nd Century A

Roman ring set with a bloodstone intaglio depicting Helios or Sol.

Greco Roman, 2nd Century AD.

The intaglio measures 1.4 x 1.1cm.

The ring is high carat gold and measures N 1/2 UK / 6.75 US.

The high carat gold, filled ring bears all of the characteristics of a ring with a 2nd Century AD date and is probably of the period.

The god can be seen beside an altar, bearing ears of wheat. The gem engraver has cleverly used the scarlet red inclusions to pronounce the wheat and flames from the altar.

The use of bloodstone or heliotrope is an unusual material for this period, deliberately used to enhance the solar attributes of Helios / Sol.

For a similar example please see the magical gem at the British Museum, inventory number OA.9740;

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_OA-9740

The rounded form of the ring is seen from the 2nd Century AD onward, for a similar example please see Museum Wales, inventory number 55.83;

https://museum.wales/collections/online/object/cfd0facc-296d-36de-88ef-0d4cc8b25dcb/Roman-gold-finger-ring-with-intaglio/?field0=string&value0=Helios%20intaglio&field1=with_images&value1=1&page=9&index=102