Rock crystal ring
Description
- Artist | Manufacturer:
- Eastern mint?
- Title:
- Rock crystal ring
- Collection:
- Coin Cabinet
- Domain:
- Numismatics
- Material | Technique:
- Rock crystal
- Measurements:
- 27,12 g 41 x 41 x 16 cm ⌀ : 15 mm (inner)
- Geographical Reference:
- Site of discovery: Luxembourg | Widdebierg/Lampecht (Betzdorf)
- Place in Museum:
- MNHA | Main building | 1st floor | Entrance Numismatic department
Contents
- Description:
-
This rock crystal ring is particularly mysterious. It was found at Widdenberg near Mensdorf, at the site of a Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to the god Lenus Mars Veraudunus. It dates from the second century AD and depicts a high-relief female bust carved with great care and attention, particularly in the details of her hair. The band of the ring is incised with two intertwining lines.
Only a few rings of this type have been found anywhere in the Roman Empire. Rock crystal was a precious and sought-after material. It was also fragile and particularly difficult to carve.
Although these rings were sumptuous to wear, they were cumbersome and probably worn no more than occasionally. A fragment of a similar ring found in a temple at the Roman vicus of Dalheim shows that they were used for ritual purposes. Rock crystal, a pure and colourless quartz, was reputed to have magical properties.
More Information
- Bibliography:
- Polfer, M. [Dir.] (2017). MNHA 100 Objets. Luxembourg : Musée national d'histoire et d'art.| p. 74-75
Santer, J., Krieps, R. Linster, G., Thill, G., Metzler, J., Krier, J., … Pauly, M.(1989). Trésors du Musée national d'histoire et d'art Luxembourg. Luxembourg : Musée national d'histoire et d'art.| ill. 43
metadataTab_0_3
- Copyright:
-
Work: Public Domain
Image(s): CC0
Metadata: CC0
- Photographer:
- Christof Weber