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Intaglio Jewelry :
Roman Seal Rings : Roman Carnelian Intaglio Depicting Athena
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Roman Carnelian Intaglio Depicting Athena - FJ.5210
Origin: Israel
Circa: 100
AD
to 300
AD
Collection: Intaglio Jewelry
Style: Roman
Medium: Carnelian, Gold
Additional Information: The gold mount is modern.
$3,600.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
Mounted in a stunning 18 karat gold ring.
The ancient Greek goddess of wisdom and war, known to the Romans as Minerva, Athena was the daughter of Zeus, king of the gods. According to myth, her father was suffering from an enormous headache and summoned Hephaistion the blacksmith god to split open his head and relieve the pain. Wren Hephaistion brought his hammer down on Zeus' skull; Athena jumped forth fully-grown and wearing a suit of armor. Although important to all the Greek people, Athena’s chief cult was at Athens, the city named for her. Legend has it that she had a contest with Poseidon, god of the sea, for control of the town. It was decided that whichever god gave the most valuable gift to the city would become its patron. Poseidon struck the earth with his trident and a salt spring came forth; Athena produced the olive tree, source of ancient Athens’s greatest commercial power and thereby won the contest. The scenes of her birth and the contest were portrayed on the pediments of the Parthenon, the temple erected in her honor on the acropolis of Athens in the 5th century B.C. The temple also housed an enormous cult statue of the goddess made from gold and ivory, which showed Athena fully armed with helmet, spear and shield. In addition to her armor, which symbolized her warlike aspects, Athena was represented by the olive branch and the owl, the ancient bird of wisdom.
- (FJ.5210)
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