Description:

Roman Republic, ca. 1st century BCE. This is an orange-red carnelian (chalcedony with iron oxide) oval ringstone engraved with a portrait of Silenus, the tutor/follower of Dionysus, who here, as always, is depicted as an older man with a large, full beard. Themes of Dionysus and his followers were particularly popular during this time period, as control of the Mediterranean shifted from Greece to Rome. Some rulers even identified themselves with the god; for example, Ptolemy XII in Egypt pronounced himself the "New Dionysus". This oval would look beautiful set into a modern ring. Size: 0.45" W x 0.65" H (1.1 cm x 1.7 cm)

Provenance: Ex-California Museum of Ancient Art

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#115481

  • Condition: Two very small nicks to edges; design is very clear.

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June 22, 2016 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
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$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000