CIRCA 1ST CENTURY B.C.-1ST CENTURY A.D.

Details

FIVE ROMAN HARDSTONE RING STONES
CIRCA 1ST CENTURY B.C.-1ST CENTURY A.D.
Together with two possibly 19th century hardstone ring stones
20 mm. long max.

Provenance

G. Sangiorgi collection (1886-1965), Rome.
Private collection, Monaco, 1970s; thence by descent.

Special notice

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Laetitia Delaloye

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Lot Essay

For the subject matter of the Spartan warrior Othryades lying amongst shields, see G. M. A. Richter, Engraved Gems of the Romans, London, 1971, pp.13-14, no. 5-7. A very popular subject on Roman Republican gems, Othryades was the young Spartan who became general of the three hundred strong Spartan army when the Argives and Spartans were contending Thyrea. When the battlefield was deserted, Othryades revived and, supporting himself on spear-shafts broken in two, despoiled and stripped the Argive corpses of their shields; when he had erected a trophy, he wrote with his own blood upon it "VICI" (I conquered). After the Spartans were declared the victors it is said that Othryades, being ashamed to return to Sparta when all his comrades had been killed, slew himself there in Thyrea.

The parrot is the bird associated with Dionysos, god of wine, see M. Maaskant-Kleibrink, Royal Coin Cabinet, pp. 228-229, nos. 564-565.

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