Hellenistic, A Hellenistic carnelian intaglio of Omphale, set in an antique gold ring, circa 1st century BC

Hellenistic

A Hellenistic carnelian intaglio of Omphale, set in an antique gold ring, circa 1st century BC

Carnelian and gold

Length of intaglio: 2.1 cm; ring size UK: P

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The elongated oval intaglio depicting Omphale wearing a lion skin and holding the club of her husband Herakles.

Provenance

Private collection, UK, set in a 19th century gold ring

Literature

Omphale was the wife of Herakles who is shown wearing his lionskin and holding his club. There is a similar depiction on an amethyst gem, once in the Marlborough collection: J. Boardman, D. Scarisbrick, C. Wagner, E. Zwierlein-Diehl, The Marlborough Gems, 2009, no. 338. Also there is a Julio-Claudian period example in the Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory, acc. no. 2008.031.028.

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