Roman Gold Ring - Crescent and Star, Circa 1st, 4th Century AD

Gold ring with solid band and expanding arms , set carnelian intaglio with crescent and star; 6.17 grams, 20 mm inner diameter, 22mm outer diameter. Fine condition. From the private collection of a London gentleman, acquired on the EU art market around 2000s. FOOTNOTES: By the late Hellenistic or early Roman period, the star and crescent motif had been associated to some degree with Byzantium. If any goddess had a connection with the walls in Constantinople, it was Hecate. Hecate had a cult in Byzantium from the time of its founding. Like Byzas in one legend, she had her origins in Thrace. Hecate was considered the patron goddess of Byzantium because she was said to have saved the city from an attack by Philip of Macedon in 340 BC by the appearance of a bright light in the sky. To commemorate the event the Byzantines erected a statue of the goddess known as the Lampadephoros ("torch-bearer" or "torch-bringer").

Weight: 6.17 g