Europe, Victorian, ca. 19th century CE. An attractive ring featuring a deep purple glass intaglio with a head of a young Herakles (Hercules) in profile presenting wavy hair, generally handsome features, and a lion skin around his neck - set in a modern 10 karat gold setting with a shank that boasts a decorative leaf pattern. US ring size 5. Size: intaglio measures 1" L x .75" W (2.5 cm x 1.9 cm); Total weight: 8.8 grams.

Displaying immense physical strength and courage, Herakles' adventures in the Greco-Roman world were narrated in the canonical Twelve Labors, the first occurring when King Eurystheus asked Herakles to bring him the skin of a fierce lion that terrorized the hillside around Nemea - a seemingly impossible task. Despite the fact that initially Herakles' arrows were utterly useless against this threatening beast, our hero ultimately succeeded, clutching the lion in his muscular arms all the while strategically avoiding its claws, finally choking the wild feline to death.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#134757

Only slight wear to intaglio and shank is excellent as well.