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Description: | Treasure number 2010 T293.A Roman gold finger-ring, complete and in fine condition. The hexagonal hoop has a flat inner surface, a neatly-faceted external surface and prominent keeled shoulders. The lightly-raised oval box setting contains a banded quartz (nicolo) intaglio - flat, oval, with bevelled edge - finely-engraved with the figure of a swimming dolphin with a three-pronged trident protruding from its jaws (or from behind its head).The image of a dolphin had several possible connotations in antiquity. The marine nature of this example is underlined by the addition of a trident, the principal attribute of the sea-god Neptune. For another gemstone showing a dolphin with a trident behind, appropriately from the Roman port site of Richborough, Kent, see Henig 1978, no. 649.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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