Ancient Early Byzantine Christian Bonze Stamp Ring with Cross Motif 400-500 AD

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AncientEarly Byzantine Christian Bonze Stamp Ring with Cross Motif 400-500 AD About The Roman Jewelry Apart from gold and other precious metals, Romans used glass to make their jewelry. Roman jewelry gives us an insight into the culture of this ancient country. Just like other ancient civilizations, Rome also had its distinct strata of social classes. In the Roman society, jewelry was worn for indicating the social status of a person and attaching pieces of clothing rather than beautification. Gold was used by the artisans and jewelers for carving the adornments and jewelry as it was believed to be the metal of the Gods and supposed to have descended from the sun. Other than gold, the materials used in jewelry making were bronze, Roman glass, bone beads and precious gemstones which were excavated from far off places like Persia, Far East, Indus Valley, etc. Diamonds, emeralds and sapphires found their way from the silk route to the Roman land to appease the rich and mighty of this civilization. About the Roman Rings Romans liked to wear big rings which drew attention and revealed the status of the wearer. A gold ring often contained a huge gemstone or Roman glass which was generally worn by the Senators and the bureaucrats. The common people referred as the Plebeians were allowed to wear only rings made of iron. However, some Plebeians were awarded the right to wear the golden rings for their bravery or special service to the state. But gradually such stringent rules were relaxed during the reign of Justinian I. Women of ancient Rome were more inclined to wear multiple rings of varied materials and designs on their hands without the constraints of social classes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About This Ring This highly iconic ring was made as a sign of one’s deep devotion and faith. Of stunning, glossy dark patina, with its vibrant golden bronze hue peeking from underneath it, this rare find bears a slim and symmetrical band and a very tall bezel. The surface of the bezel has been deeply incised with a cross with a ‘v’ patterning on the spaces on each side. This ring had a dual purpose. Not only was it used for its aesthetic purpose, it was also used for the stamping of official documents. Stamps were often personalized by its wearer with patterns of symbols of his or her choosing. Although the Empire was religiously diverse, by the late fourth century Christianity became the official religion of the Empire, and faith would help maintain the authority and prominence of Constantinople through its decline from political significance. Much of Byzantine art was created to express religious experience and mediate between the believer and God. Visual expressions of faith within the context of the Eucharist and other religious ceremonies then provide layers of meaning, even the primary context, to the style and art of the Byzantine world. This ring is an absolutely timeless and elegant adornment that has been well preserved, extremely smooth, and makes for a comfortable wear. Its cross impression is just as clear as it would have been in antiquity, when stamped today! Additional Information Dated – 400-500 A.D. Ring’s diameter – 15 mm Height from top to bottom – 23 mm Type of gemstone/s – None Condition – Very Fine U.S. ring size – 4¼ Region of ancient origin – Judea, Israel. Terms & Conditions: Upon bidding, winning a bid and purchasing an item, Buyers agree to the following: · Physical Stats: Buyers agree to be responsible for the acknowledgement of item’s size and the physical stats provided clearly in the ‘Additional Information’ below. · Authenticity: All items are unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic as described. All items of antiquity in the INTAGLIA eBay store are supervised by and in support by the American Numismatic A... read more

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