Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. An exquisite 22K+ gold ring with a carnelian intaglio depicting Mars (Greek Ares) - the god of war who represented military might as a means toward peace. He is shown standing in profile, wearing a helmet, and holding a shield in one hand and a sword in the other. The ring setting is so refined, presenting a bezel with overlapping gold loops surrounding a rope-patterned border and a shank comprised of two conjoined wires that diverge as they approach the face of the ring and terminate in elegant granules. A gorgeous piece of wearable art from the ancient Roman Empire. Size: 0.9" W (2.3 cm); carnelian is: 0.5" H (1.3 cm); USA ring size 8; total weight: 3.5 grams; gold quality: 95% gold, equivalent to 22K+

In addition to being associated with war, Mars was also revered as an agricultural guardian. Festivals honoring him were usually in March, the month named for him; however, they also occurred in October, the month which marked the ending of the farming season.

Provenance: ex-Phoenicia Holyland Antiquities; ex-Fortuna Fine Art Gallery, March 22, 2007

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#153615

Ring band is slightly bent but still wearable. Carnelian has a small chip on the face (see photos) but otherwise is in nice condition with very light scratching and clear imagery. The bezel is in very good condition.