A ROMAN CORNELIAN INTAGLIO

CIRCA 1ST CENTURY B.C.

Details

A ROMAN CORNELIAN INTAGLIO
CIRCA 1ST CENTURY B.C.
Showing a naked warrior consulting an oracle, standing holding a spear with a shield at his feet, before a slender column with a snake entwined around it and a bird perched on the top, set in a later gold ring hoop decorated with leaves, leaves repaired
2 cm. internal diam.

Provenance

A European private collection of ancient jewellery formed during the 1920s-1930s; sold Christie's, London, 6 July 1994, lot 351 (item two).

Lot Essay

Cf. M. Henig. The Lewis Collection of Gemstones, British Archaeological Reports Supp. Series 1, 1975, p. 48, nos. 185-186, pl. 12. "It is generally thought that the type represents a visit to an oracle such as Dionysios of Halikarnassos describes at Tiora (Ant. rom, 1, 14) where the responses were given by a woodpecker."

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