Roman
A Roman pale chalcedony intaglio of Zeus-Serapis set in an antique gold ring, Circa 1st-2nd century AD
Chalcedony and gold
Length of intaglio: 1.6 cm
Ring size UK: L
Ring size UK: L
£ 4,500.00
With the seated figure of Zeus-Serapis, his himation draped around his lower body, holding a sceptre in his right hand, patera in his outstretched left hand, an eagle standing in...
With the seated figure of Zeus-Serapis, his himation draped around his lower body, holding a sceptre in his right hand, patera in his outstretched left hand, an eagle standing in front by his feet.
Provenance
UK private collection, London. The intaglio mounted in the 19th century.Publications
The iconography of this intaglio has most likely taken inspiration from the renowned Statue of Zeus at Olympia. The statue was a monumental enthroned figure of the god. Made by the Greek sculptor Phidias around 435 BC, it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.According to Strabo (Geography 8.3.30) this Phidian Zeus was so large it threatened to lift the roof from the temple if it ever stood up, and could only be glimpsed partially through the temple doors. Gems of this type therefore allowed the wearer access, and enabled the viewer to commune with the god in his entirety, up close and at any time. The selection of a translucent blue chalcedony mimics the god’s live presence, evoking the shimmering blue sheen attributed to Zeus’ skin and hair by various ancient authors. This was a luster that signalled the god’s divinity and connected him to the sky, his primary realm of authority. For a similar example see, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession no. 41.160.90.