Gold ring with a garnet

The conquests of Alexander the Great opened new trade routes, which facilitated the circulation of metals and precious stones between east and west. As a result, jewellery-making and gold-smithing flourished in Hellenistic times.

Gold rings with engraved gems became common in that period. They were probably used by their owners to seal documents or products. The illustrated example belongs to a characteristic type of the 3rd c. BC. It has plain ring and oval bezel, upon which an engraved garnet has been set. The engraving represents a standing female figure.

The gold ring was made by hammering. The engraving of the garnet (which is a hard material) was achieved with the help of a horizontal bow-drill, at the end of which tips of different shape were applied (disk-like for making lines, cylindrical for making circles etc.). The tips were covered with oil and emery sand, which helped – through friction – to engrave the garnet and carve the motifs.

PUBLICATION
– Laffineur R. 1980. ‘Collection Paul Canellopoulos (XV). Bijoux en or grecs et romains’, Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 104, 345-457, esp. 412.
– Saraga Ν. 2006. Cat. no. 151, in Choremi-Spetsieri Α. – Zarkadas Α. (eds), The Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum. Ancient Art, Athens, 239.