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Lot Essay
The large hollow hoop is flat on the interior and rounded on the exterior, with a high oval-stepped bezel. The flat oval stone, with beveled edges, is engraved with the youthful head of Herakles. He has fine features, a muscular neck and short curly hair with a wispy sideburn. He wears the lionskin as a cape, tied at the front of his neck.
Herakles was the greatest of Greek heroes. Depictions of him were popular in every medium. On gems he can be shown as a full figure engaged in his labours, or just his head, either youthful, as here, or bearded and aged. For a similar example in glass, now in Vienna, see no. 92 in J. Boardman, “Herakles,” LIMC, vol. IV.
Herakles was the greatest of Greek heroes. Depictions of him were popular in every medium. On gems he can be shown as a full figure engaged in his labours, or just his head, either youthful, as here, or bearded and aged. For a similar example in glass, now in Vienna, see no. 92 in J. Boardman, “Herakles,” LIMC, vol. IV.