Ring with Aphrodite

Ring with Aphrodite

Cornelian, Iron

A Roman iron finger-ring set with a red Cornelian intaglio. The ring is now mostly corroded away but its extent is defined by surviving corrosion product in the form of the original ring. Set within the corrosion is a dark red intaglio, somewhat encrusted. The figure is cut in an attractive but not particularly fine style and shows Venus/Aphrodite leaning on a small pillar. She presents her back to the viewer and a piece of clothing falls below her buttocks in a fairly common style for such rings. In her left hand she holds the Apple of Discord which in Greek myth, Eris (Discord) threw among the gods at the wedding feast of Peleus and Thetis, to be claimed by the most beautiful goddess. Aphrodite fought with Hera and Athena over ownership of the apple, which eventually lead to the Trojan War.

Roman

On loan from Mr G Slater, Brisbane, before 2001.

AD 1 - AD 200

01.017

On loan from Mr G Slater, Brisbane, 2001.